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Robert G. McKeown - Artist and Woodworker

Red Pyramid box on top; Lyrical Blue box below.

Phase III jewelry box with exotic hardwoods and small colored resin accents.

Inside view of Phase III jewelry box with wood hinge.

Unfinished pieces in progress for Night Flower box (left) and Orchestration box (right).

Necklace of cast sterling silver inlaid with turquoise and carnelian gemstones. Elaborate braided embroidery floss cord created by his daughter Kyle (at age 12?).

Twelve-sided mountain cabin (in progress) built by Bob in the 1960s.

Giant 4" daisy earrings made out of wood inlaid with white and yellow polyester resin, modeled after a crayon drawing created by his daughter Kyle (at age 6?).

Artist Robert G. McKeown

Artist and woodworker Robert G. McKeown created stunning handcrafted boxes and clocks using a combination of exotic hardwoods and colored resigns.

Known for his striking designs and innovation, his technical mastery of the cloisonne-like process of casting resin into wood has never been duplicated. This process, a result of 10 years experimentation, allowed him to transfer his imaginative, abstract designs onto his colorful, intricate boxes and clocks.

To Purchase or Resell: On occasion, Robert McKeown's pieces become available for sale online at ObjectsUSA. Contact Dave Hampton for more information.

The wood items were originally sanded with Watco Danish Oil finish but may be cleaned or maintained with a linseed oil finish.

Biography: Robert McKeown's pieces remain among the finest examples of quality American craftsmanship and design. His work was exhibited nationally and internationally, including shows at the American Craft Museum in New York City, the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pennsylvania and the Yamaha Corporation American Craft Exhibit (1979-1980, Japan). He was a representative to the World Crafts Council Conference in Vienna in 1980. His talented career was cut short by his untimely death in 1989 at the age of 58.
Top photo: Tellurian Jewelry Box with sliding tray inside.
Photo of Robert McKeown circa 1984. Long Red Pyramid Box and Lyrical Blue Box shown to right of his photo.
Fourth photo shows the Bubble Box and Altar Box, and to the right is the Pendulum Wall Clock.
Phase Three hinged jewelry box and inside photo to right showing his trademark wooden hinges.
Photo eight shows box tops in process for the Fire Flower and Orchestration boxes.
Photo nine is an example of McKeown's jewelry from 1974. Sterling silver necklace with turquoise and carnelian gemstones and woven embroidery floss neck cords (neck cords woven by daughter Kyle).
Photo ten shows the 12-sided cabin he built in the forests of Humboldt County in Northern California. (Shown mid project.)
Last photo shows large daisy earrings circa 1968 made of wood and resin based on his 7-year-old daughter Kyle's design.