Checking Maple and Bubinga clutch bag

About the Artwork

This is a small bag with cute checkered patterns and a chubby, round heart that is hard to believe it is made only of wood.
This is the only bag among all the bags I made for my solo exhibition in 2019 of which I made patterns using wooden framework.
I used maple wood, which is a wood Japanese people are quite familiar with.
It is a dull and heavy kind of wood, but after being processed, it becomes white like silk with beautiful patterns that look like natural glitter.
Bubinga is an African wood with a pink-red color. This color matches the maple wood and creates a Japanese traditional - modern color. But recently, as it has been registered under the Washington Convention, it is quite difficult to obtain.
I'm sure those who love checkered patterns will like this bag. The red and white checkered patterns are extremely charming. You may think, "Isn't it too cute for me?", but surprisingly, it matches women of all ages, from little girls in kindergarten to senior people. It also matches any kind of fashion, such as western style formal, casual, and even kimonos. Actually, many people of various ages and fashion held this bag, but it looked perfect with all of them. All three generations in the family, from daughter, mother to grandmother, can use this bag together.
The size is a little small, so it may be perfect for people that are not so tall.
As I used traditional wood joinery techniques, no metal parts have been used except for the hinges and latch. The wood color is its natural color with no colors added.

Description

• Category
  Wood and Bamboo
• Materials
  Maple, Bubinga
• Dimensions
  H 19 x W 19 x D 8.5 cm
• Year presented
  2019
• Instructions
  As a transparent coating is applied, this bag is waterproof.
  However, please avoid sudden heat (placing under the heater, near a hot kettle or iron kettle etc.) or use of sharp blades, hammers etc. as this may cause damage to the wooden body. Please also avoid nail polish and other chemicals as this may cause the coating to peel off.
  Please be aware that wood expands and shrinks depending on where it is used as it absorbs and releases moisture even after being processed. For example, even by moving the bag among nearby regions in western Japan, a distortion may occur as the humidity is different.
  The distortion is very small, but this may cause a slight defect.
  Please be aware of this as it is the nature of wood.
  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Techniques Used