What's in Your Wallet?

The allure of a secret is something I’ve written about a few times before. The complex psychology of a secret is one of the many things that draws people to puzzle boxes with hidden compartments and camouflaged mechanism. I love being able to pass these puzzles on to unsuspecting passersby, nonchalantly, as if all were ordinary. It helps to have something handy, some personal effect, perhaps with a functional capacity. A business card holder, for example, would be perfect. I keep Peter Wiltshire’s “Open for Business” box on my desk at work, ready for unsuspecting solicitors. I carry cards around in Eric Fuller’s Cartesian Wallet (designed by Akio Yamamoto), which unfolds to a single piece of leather and is delightfully deceptive. And now I have a new wallet with which to befuddle and befriend.

Saifu Box by Jesse Born

Jesse Born is full of interesting ideas and he has produced another beautiful piece of work. He understands the attraction of an item which can be carried and used day to day, with a secret. He wanted to create a card holder, for business or credit cards, that was small enough to actually fit in your pocket. He also had a rather unusual idea for how it would open. Jesse is obsessed with perfection and created fifteen separate prototypes for what would become the “Saifu Box”, a nod to the Japanese heritage of yosegi marquetry which adorns some of Jesse’s work. The name says it all – Saifu means “wallet” or “purse” in Japanese. There’s another meaning, too… Jesse honed his skills and shrunk the components of the box down to make it about the size of an iphone, and pocket ready.

Just slide it open ...

Jesse uses beautiful exotic woods in his creations. The Saifu Boxes are each made with a combination of Wenge, Purpleheart and Brazilian Cherry. They are all different, using various combinations of the woods on the different components as well as the internal compartment. There are also four movable keys on the front, which are covered with Jesse’s yosegi or come in brass. The box is elegant and handsome. It feels good in the hand. And it’s impossible to open if you don’t know the secret. It’s not so easy even if you DO know the secret! It takes some practice to get it right, like any well acquired skill. In some ways it’s rather fitting that this is the case, but I won’t tell you why. You’ll have to experience it for yourself. It’s very satisfying when it opens and provides an incredible flourish to the act of presenting a card to someone.

Dead Man's Wallet by Darrin Ylisto

Reaching into my wallet, I found this recipe for a drink. There’s a story here which I’ll share. It’s a bit rude and insensitive, but has a redeeming quality. The recipe comes from Darrin Ylisto, a well known bartender from New Orleans who can be found shaking it up at the famed Sylvain bar in the French Quarter. Ylisto has a story of his own – he obtained his law degree from Tulane and was unhappily practicing law until Hurricane Katrina hit, wiping out the city in 2005. He took the opportunity to start over and is now happily doling out sage advice to his customers at Sylvain.

Port and cinnamon are perfect for the season

He relates the tale of an old man who left his wallet behind at the bar one night. Looking for an ID in order to contact the man, Ylisto was shocked to see exactly how old the man was. He announced, “He’ll probably be dead by the time we get this back to him”, then immediately felt bad about saying it. To make amends to the karma gods, he created this drink in the man’s honor. It’s a pleasing mix of rye and ruby port, a great combination for the winter months, with lemon and cinnamon syrup, which turns anything into a winter holiday drink. I don’t know if the old man ever got his wallet back, or if he made it to his hundredth birthday after all, but I know you’ll enjoy this drink. Here’s to good health, long life, warm spirits and merry companions. Cheers!

Don't forget your wallet(s)

Dead Man’s Wallet by Darrin Ylisto

1 ½ oz rye

¾ oz ruby port

½ oz lemon

1/3 oz cinnamon syrup

2 dashes Angostura bitters

Shake together with ice and strain into a favorite glass.

For more about Jesse Born:

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