This box is of my own unique and one-off design specifically made for a set of R.a.F. medals for a veteran in the R.A.F. The box is entirely handmade made of oak, teak and mahogany and the various parts of the 3D crest individually cut are made of maple, basswood, beech and American walnut.

The compartments of the box are specifically sized to each of the medals and have holes in them for the pins at the back so that the medals sit flush in the box. The indentations on the middle tray not only serve as finger holds so that you can lift the tray out, but also make the tray into a cross shape that matches the top of the crown.

Per Ardua Ad Astra is the R.A.F. motto pyrographed (burned) into the sides of the lid which loosely translates as Through adversity to the stars.

All of the parts were individually cut with a fret/scroll saw including the wings, head body and claws of the eagle. The text on the motto scroll is burned into the wood. the text on the crest is hand painted in gold.

The beak & claws took extra precision cutting as they are each less than 1cm square in size and the talons are about 2mm.

Inside lid with a maple veneer marquetry inlay of the R.A.F. crest.

Since the Eagle Squadrons were for American crew serving in the R.A.F., the eagle’s wings and body are individually cut from American walnut from Seattle.

For the keen eyed amongst you, you may notice that the crown on the crest is the King’s Crown rather than the Queen’s Crown since this has been made for an RAF veteran.