Author Topic: Japanese fine woodwork  (Read 2289 times)

Akira

  • Homo jezoensis
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 12468
  • Tokyo, Japan
Japanese fine woodwork
« on: August 11, 2018, 02:42:25 »
Yesterday, I happened to visit an exhibition introducing various Japanese handwork.  These are some images of "Kumiko-zaiku".  Precisely shaped small pieces of wood are assembled to make a fine relief.  I'm not sure of the exact term in English, but they do look awesome!
"The eye is blind if the mind is absent." - Confucius

"Limitation is inspiration." - Akira

ArthurDent

  • NG Member
  • *
  • Posts: 704
  • You ARE NikonGear
Re: Japanese fine woodwork
« Reply #1 on: August 11, 2018, 04:15:50 »
Amazing work!

basker

  • NG Member
  • *
  • Posts: 169
Re: Japanese fine woodwork
« Reply #2 on: August 11, 2018, 04:20:04 »
A remarkable documentary, thank you.
Sam McMillan

Nasos Kosmas

  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 914
  • Athens, Greece
Re: Japanese fine woodwork
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2018, 08:40:53 »
Amazing Akira this kind of work needs to be very patient

Fons Baerken

  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 10576
    • https://www.flickr.com/photos/fonsbaerken/
Re: Japanese fine woodwork
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2018, 09:02:51 »
Exquisite, meditation in action!

Akira

  • Homo jezoensis
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 12468
  • Tokyo, Japan
Re: Japanese fine woodwork
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2018, 09:09:57 »
Thank you, Arthur, Sam, Nasos and Fons, for dropping by and commenting.

This was not the first time I had ever seen the real things, but they never cease to amaze me.
"The eye is blind if the mind is absent." - Confucius

"Limitation is inspiration." - Akira

Anthony

  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 1601
Re: Japanese fine woodwork
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2018, 09:16:51 »
Akira, these are very beautiful, thank you for posting.
Anthony Macaulay

Seapy

  • NG Member
  • *
  • Posts: 830
Re: Japanese fine woodwork
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2018, 10:10:19 »
Akira, that is outstanding.  In English we have fret work but that is usually pierced from a solid plank, I am not aware of a truly comparable style of assembly to this.  I do wonder how tolerant it would be to the range of humidity we experience here in England. Wood expands and contracts a lot and that could play havoc with something like that.  I have a small Indian eight sided inlaid mahogany table which is inlaid with ivory and black ebony, that is falling apart in places where some of the pieces of mahogany have shrunk and fallen out of the joints.

A couple of years ago I re worked my front room with new tile floor, walls and new ceiling. I fitted new architraves around the doors, the mitre joints were perfect.  After two years they are now gaping, the wood having expanded and shrunk with the humidity.  It would be such a shame if these beautiful screen like pieces suffered in that a way.
Robert C. P.
South Cumbria, UK

Akira

  • Homo jezoensis
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 12468
  • Tokyo, Japan
Re: Japanese fine woodwork
« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2018, 10:50:17 »
Anthony, thank you for kind words.

Robert, the fret work you mention seems to be a kind of mosaic which also exists in Japan.

As for the influence of the humidity changes, you will see that all wood pieces of the work are quater-sawn.  So, the humidity should affect mostly the thickness of the whole work, which should avoid the work from falling apart.
"The eye is blind if the mind is absent." - Confucius

"Limitation is inspiration." - Akira

Seapy

  • NG Member
  • *
  • Posts: 830
Re: Japanese fine woodwork
« Reply #9 on: August 11, 2018, 11:51:55 »
I'm thinking mainly of church screens, perforated with designs clover leaf like in thin oak planks.

It's a project I am waiting for the opportunity to persu.

Quarter sawn is good, here mainly in French oak, english oak is usually too twisted and uneven to get nice quarter sawn effect, although there are notable exceptions, parliament panel work is wonderful.
Robert C. P.
South Cumbria, UK

Akira

  • Homo jezoensis
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 12468
  • Tokyo, Japan
Re: Japanese fine woodwork
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2018, 12:12:44 »
I guess they use ceder or pine for their work.  Both tend to have straight grain.  They are lightweight, which keep the whole work light.
"The eye is blind if the mind is absent." - Confucius

"Limitation is inspiration." - Akira

Nasos Kosmas

  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 914
  • Athens, Greece
Re: Japanese fine woodwork
« Reply #11 on: August 11, 2018, 13:26:07 »
The wood in the last picture is cedar that is light weight and smells wonderfully
I guess these woods are the right woods for this kind of job

Frank Fremerey

  • engineering art
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 12332
  • Bonn, Germany
Re: Japanese fine woodwork
« Reply #12 on: August 11, 2018, 15:06:58 »
very refined adorable
You are out there. You and your camera. You can shoot or not shoot as you please. Discover the world, Your world. Show it to us. Or we might never see it.

Me: https://youpic.com/photographer/frankfremerey/

Akira

  • Homo jezoensis
  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 12468
  • Tokyo, Japan
Re: Japanese fine woodwork
« Reply #13 on: August 12, 2018, 01:03:19 »
The wood in the last picture is cedar that is light weight and smells wonderfully
I guess these woods are the right woods for this kind of job

Yes, I think so.


very refined adorable

Frank, indeed, yes.  This kind of wood work is specialty products of Aichi prefecture, and this exhibited workshop is one of the best.
"The eye is blind if the mind is absent." - Confucius

"Limitation is inspiration." - Akira

bobfriedman

  • NG Supporter
  • **
  • Posts: 1243
  • Massachusetts, USA
Re: Japanese fine woodwork
« Reply #14 on: August 12, 2018, 12:33:32 »
this is great.. love the symmetry and design complexity...
Robert L Friedman, Massachusetts, USA
www.pbase.com/bobfriedman