Carved Mahogany Doors

I was commissioned to design, carve, and install two doors for our synagogue.
After the design phase, which involved a committee from the synagogue, I started with the doors and then glued up solid panels to serve as a canvas for my design. I designed the carvings to be on separate solid wood panels and not on the doors themselves so that they can expand and contract as needed without detriment to the functioning of the doors.

The trim and casings were not by design as originally they were to be minimal. As it turned out the walls were concrete block and could not support the doors so steel beams were added. I thought to then make some classical architectural columns and moldings but they committee decided against something so grandiose. In the end I added simple moldings and profiles to cover the steel beams.