A VERY Special 007 Birthday gift

Hi Guys,
Just wanted to share this VERY special Birthday gift I received from my Brother-in-Law, Tony Kunz.

He’s been secretly working on this for months!!! At first, it appears to just be a drawing on wood under a frame but it’s hardly that at all. You can see by the steel 12-inch ruler under the first photo that it’s quite large.

Each one of the various actors to have played Bond was meticulously cut out of wood. This type of woodworking is called FRET work. In this the negative space is carefully cutout with a scroll saw.

The second set of photos taken at an angle better illustrates how this was made.

A plain black vinyl backing behind each of the portraits is the black that you see show through the missing spaces.

I think it’s amazing that someone can do this let alone achieve a likeness. Some of the parts are so thin that it’s hard to believe that he was able to do it without the wood cracking. The scroll saw blade he used was approximately the width of a human hair!!!

I was extremely surprised to have received this. He is a true Master woodworker and this shows you the amount of talent he has as well as the kindness to have spent such a looooong time to get this made for me.
Ed

007-Fret1_zpsb18a3709.jpg

007-Fret2_zps0452fef4.jpg

007-Fret3_zps61cb382e.jpg

007-Fret4_zps8c9a201d.jpg

007-Fret5_zpse53e8ff3.jpg

007-Fret6_zpsb1b21b4f.jpg

007-Fret7_zps94ec6f94.jpg

007-Fret8_zps4759191c.jpg

007-Fret9_zps50d6c733.jpg

007-Fret10_zps5226a4d8.jpg

007-Fret11_zps97916309.jpg

007-Fret12_zps3c7b11bf.jpg

007-Fret13_zps4ecf40a6.jpg
«1

Comments

  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    {[] Congratulations {[] that's truly a fantastic item ! A lot of skill
    Went into it {[] and it looks amazing. :)
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • kaddkadd Posts: 917MI6 Agent
    Wow! That is awesome and a truly one of a kind gift.

    Good luck trying to get your brother-in-law a present for HIS birthday...
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,638MI6 Agent
    Awesome, and what a wonderful gift. It shows what he thinks of you. Then again, to have you as a brother-in-law makes him one lucky Kunz. :v
  • Charmed & DangerousCharmed & Dangerous Posts: 7,358MI6 Agent
    Wow! You can see what an incredible amount of effort he has put in... That's a really impressive piece of art which would grace any collection. -{
    "How was your lamb?" "Skewered. One sympathises."
  • LexiLexi LondonPosts: 3,000MI6 Agent
    That is quite amazing! What a fantastic gift. Lucky you -{
    She's worth whatever chaos she brings to the table and you know it. ~ Mark Anthony
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,766Chief of Staff
    That is superb ! So much time and effort must have gone into that !

    You are a lucky man -{
    YNWA 97
  • Gadget MeisterGadget Meister Bicester, OxonPosts: 1,972MI6 Agent
    And no-one is more deserving than you, Ed. Fantastic, does he do commissions?
  • 7700777007 Posts: 502MI6 Agent
    Nice.

    Lol Dalton needs two hands on his PPK. :))
  • Donald GrantDonald Grant U.S.A.Posts: 2,251Quartermasters
    Very cool Ed. Have a Happy Birthday!

    DG
    So, what sharp little eyes you've got...wait till you get to my teeth.
    image_zps6a725e59.jpg
    "People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Richard Grenier after George Orwell, Washington Times 1993.
  • welshboy78welshboy78 Posts: 10,320MI6 Agent
    Superb!!!!!!!
    Instagram - bondclothes007
  • 007JBDCMWR007JBDCMWR Posts: 2,526MI6 Agent
    Stunning

    Ask him if he has the time to do us all one :))
    Skewered, one sympathises...

    1. CR. 2. TSWLM. 3. LTK. 4. GF. 5. SF.
  • thespyboys11thespyboys11 Lindenwold,NJPosts: 1,894MI6 Agent
    Due to the cost of the particular wood needed for this type of project, the frame and the ridiculous amount of time needed it would be...shall we say...expensive!!
    However, he will entertain serious inquiries for individual portraits or groupings similar to what he did for me.
    Ed
  • KleynenKleynen BelgiumPosts: 396MI6 Agent
    CONGRATULATIONS!!!! -{ -{

    Great Art work. {[]
  • YouknowthenameYouknowthename Carver Media GroupPosts: 501MI6 Agent
    First of all: congratulations! And secondly: wow! Such time, devotion and love went into this gift - simply amazing. You and your brother in law must mean a lot to eachother!
  • danjaq_0ffdanjaq_0ff The SwampsPosts: 7,283MI6 Agent
    Wonderful gift Ed, nice one -{
  • thespyboys11thespyboys11 Lindenwold,NJPosts: 1,894MI6 Agent
    He is a VERY talented woodworker. He's also the one who makes my SPECTRE Call box
    --Ed

    007-FRWL_CallDevice-Rep5_zpsb61f76a0.jpg
  • ke02ewwke02eww USPosts: 2,063MI6 Agent
    Fantastic Ed, beautiful workmanship....

    How about larger "puzzle" versions for kids?

    With black detachable pieces, and much larger to make the cutting easier.

    I bet plenty of young bond fans would love one for Xmas.

    Just don't put James bond or 007 on the box :#

    Just a thought.
  • Bond-on-a-BudgetBond-on-a-Budget ChicagoPosts: 101MI6 Agent
    Amazing craftsmanship and a great unique gift!
    James Bond: I tend to notice little things like that - whether a girl is a blonde or a brunette...
    Tiffany Case: And which do you prefer?
    James Bond: Well, as long as the collars and cuffs match...
  • UNCLE27UNCLE27 EnglandPosts: 1,144MI6 Agent
    That is truly amazing!! What a talented chap!! -{
  • PaperbillPaperbill FloridaPosts: 812MI6 Agent
    Very nice indeed!
  • HalfMonk HalfHitmanHalfMonk HalfHitman USAPosts: 2,353MI6 Agent
    That's spectacular!
  • MANDY1MANDY1 TISPosts: 2,608MI6 Agent
    Truly AMAZING !!! I hope you had great birthday Ed and many happy returns {[] -{
    Knowing who to trust is Everything in this business.

    TIS - "The moment you think you got it figured - you're wrong"

    Formerly known as Teppo
  • Westward_DriftWestward_Drift Posts: 3,113MI6 Agent
    That is amazing. Congratulations on such a great gift. -{ You have a very talented friend.

    I hope you had a great birthday.

    I would be interested in contacting your friend to see about commissioning a portrait (non- Bond related).
  • thespyboys11thespyboys11 Lindenwold,NJPosts: 1,894MI6 Agent
    Not a problem. Email me direct at: thefudds@aol.com and I'll forward it to him.
    If anyone else is interested... he is considering doing individual Bond portraits as well.
    Ed
  • Gebruder GumboldGebruder Gumbold San FranciscoPosts: 549MI6 Agent
    Incredible! That is true craftsmanship, and passion!
    Congratulations are in order!
    Many Happy Returns as well...
  • thespyboys11thespyboys11 Lindenwold,NJPosts: 1,894MI6 Agent
    Thanks guys!!!
    I may be getting older but I'll NEVER "grow up"
    Glad to have had the pleasure of making so many new friends on AJB.
    Ed
  • ACACIA_AVENUEACACIA_AVENUE UKPosts: 1,775MI6 Agent
    Thanks guys!!!
    I may be getting older but I'll NEVER "grow up"
    Glad to have had the pleasure of making so many new friends on AJB.
    Ed

    Belated Happy Birthday ED {[]
    One of us smells like a tart's handkerchief.
  • thespyboys11thespyboys11 Lindenwold,NJPosts: 1,894MI6 Agent
    thank you....BUT it was an early B-Day gift. My birthday is tomorrow so you're right on time!!!
    Ed
  • thespyboys11thespyboys11 Lindenwold,NJPosts: 1,894MI6 Agent
    I convinced my Brother-in-law to try making larger 8x10 versions of the ones he presented to me. Here is the first one.....
    He will be entertaining commissions.
    Ed

    ebay_zpsa51e2bf0.jpg

    DSCN0173_zps24a98a10.jpg

    DSCN0174_zpsc405c59c.jpg

    DSCN0175_zps5da11ee5.jpg

    DSCN0177_zps6ac351e4.jpg
  • The Domino EffectThe Domino Effect Posts: 3,638MI6 Agent
    He is very talented indeed.
Sign In or Register to comment.