New Shaving Box - Kinda

I found this box at a flea market for $1. Its not "New"...but it will be when I am done with it. Cool thing about this box is the inscription. I tried to take a picture, but its not easy to see it all.

"JD Phelps
28 Asylum Street, Hartford CT
Year 1881"

While the box it pretty much shot, I am going to use this as the design for one that I am going to build with slight modifications. I am debating what type of wood to use and what type of inlay I am going to attempt. If anybody has some ideas that would be helpful.

For wood I am thinking of a few options:

Maple Burl (easier to get in large pieces).
Redwood Lace Burl
Manzanita Burl

For inlay I have thought of keeping it simple and doing a 3/8" trim highlight around the top of the box. I am not very experienced with inlaying, so I figure straight lines are a fine idea for now.


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Very cool traveling desk. I worked in Hartford for many years.