Let’s say the wood worker charges $100 an hour. That is 180 hours assuming $1000 in material. Someone had to design it, build it, and someone had to do the carving or CNC programming for the seal. That is not out of the realm of a reasonable cost for a custom made piece of furniture. I am in the manufacturing industry and have made similar items for similar costs.
My guess is that a lot of the cost was for the casting or milling on the State of Arkansas emblem on the front, but don’t know enough to say for sure. (Did she sign the requisition or was it some state purchasing agent?
Does it have bullet proof cladding on the inside? Some electrical components that we do not see? Looks like it can be move up and down. More cost.