Product Introduction Eng.

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Furniture that embodies the beauty of Japanese craftsmanship

Nagata Ryosuke Shoten　×　MAKINO URUSHI DESIGN

The craftsmanship of Nagata Ryosuke Shoten’s Western-style furniture began in the Meiji era.

The artisans who took on the task of making furniture were highly skilled shipbuilders who had been constructing wooden ships in Japan.

For 150 years, the techniques that emerged from the fusion of Western design and traditional Japanese craftsmanship have been continuously passed down.

Makino Urushi Design has inherited the lacquerware technique, a craft that symbolizes traditional Japanese culture.

They has been recognized for its expertise through the restoration of various temples, shrines, and Buddhist statues, including the Shariden (Reliquary Hall) of Kinkaku-ji, one of Japan's most iconic temple structures.

The meeting of two traditional Japanese crafts has given birth to a unique piece of furniture that could only be created in Japan.

Lines created with chisels and planes.

The process of creating the wood base is carried out by the hands of craftsmen.

The "Turnery" decoration used on the table legs is carved out of a single piece of wood using only chisels.

The craftsman's delicate adjustments create deep, curved carvings that can only be achieved through handwork.

All the finishing lines of the chair are created using only a plane.

Different planes with varying angles and sizes are used repeatedly to refine the chair's lines, with thousands of strokes applied to achieve the desired curves and shapes.

Draped in green

The first step in lacquer painting is to prepare the base layer.

The process begins by smoothing the wood surface to ensure better adhesion of the lacquer.　Aluminum foil is then manually applied on top, creating a base that reflects transmitted light in various directions.Applying the foil is a highly meticulous task. Any unevenness left after applying the foil, except on the flat surface of the tabletop, will result in an uneven finish once the lacquer is applied. Therefore, after carefully applying and securing the foil, the surface is polished to ensure the foil adheres properly, completing the base layer.

The next step involves repeating painting and polishing to achieve layers of color with depth.

The green-tinted coating combined with the lacquer's unique "transparent amber color" creates a distinctive gloss not found in other finishes. Over time, with use, the transparency increases and the gloss develops, resulting in a beautiful transformation.

The beautifully polished, glossy surface changes in appearance depending on the angle of the light.

Not only the flat surfaces but also the curved areas are meticulously finished from the base layer, allowing the same part to reveal a new expression depending on the viewing angle and lighting conditions.

It is the result of the craftsmen's painstaking handwork that creates this miraculous beauty.