Box of Zelkova Wood Finished in Wiped Urushi

About the Artwork

The form of this piece is a deformation of a fishing boat in a village in the Seto Inland Sea where I was born and raised. Fishing boats are symmetrical, but the bow of this boat is slightly curved towards the right. I started working on this piece by sketching the design, forming with clay, and then finally made it with wood. I chose zelkova wood with wood grain mostly straight, and hollowed out the top surface of the cover to bring out a symmetrical grain pattern. I made the bottom part of the box where things can be stored in the form just like the bottom of a ship.

Description

• Category
  Wood and Bamboo
• Materials
  Zelkova
• Dimensions
  H 12.0 x W 36.0 x D 25.0 cm
• Year presented
  2025
• Rarity
  Unique

Techniques Used

Wiped lacquer finish

Wiped lacquer (fuki urushi) is a wood-finishing technique consisting of a thin coat of lacquer. The lacquer is applied with a spatula or brush, rubbed in with a cotton cloth, and then wiped away using washi paper or clean fabric. Repeating the process numerous times produces a finish that brings out the wood’s grain and texture.

Awards received

• The 20th Wood and Bamboo Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (2025)
• Asahi Shimbun Award