European dining tables typically organize their oil & vinegar cruets and salt & pepper shakers on a small caddy that can be picked up and passed around with one finger.  I made this one as a gift for my wife out of mahogany and maple to fit the glassware we already had.  My goal was to make a cruet caddy that was both functional and beautiful.  For function, it had to be lightweight, balanced, and easy to pick up.  For beauty, I used mahogany for its rich depth of finish, and added a maple lamination  for contrast.  I designed the handle with a large sturdy finger hole, and added the heart cutout as a sign of affection for my wife.  The result almost suggests a modern art version of a person.  Simply gluing the handle to the base would not have been strong enough, so I bored the base and handle for a quarter-inch dowel before glue-up to strengthen that connection.

Launch Gallery