M a t s u K a z e W o o d w o r k i n g
This current works is
my largest chadansu to date. Completed this past December 2012.
It is now available at the Harbor Gallery located in Kawaihae Harbor on the Island of Hawaii.
The piece measures 14.5x44x53". It is handmade from a beautiful curly, almost quilted, Koa log from the Palani Ranch here on the Island of Hawaii. . Exceptional dark chocolate colors with highlights of gold and black streaking. The Sugi, a Japanese cryptomeria harvested in Mountain View near the Volcano, was also quite amazing. It made an elegant contrast to the curly Koa.
Other woods
used were Portuguese Cypress, Port Orford Cedar, and a small piece of Koa’ai.
As with all my signature work, the tansu is entirely hand cut with chisel and saw.
All the details, such as the radiused faces of the edges, slight chamfers on all the corners, the beading on the doors and back panels, were all created with specialty hand planes, some of which were fashioned myself to create a truly one of a kind tansu you will not find anywhere else.
This Chadansu maybe used to entertain guests for tea, store collections of objects or artifacts, and the front doors maybe removed to showcase a precious vessel for the viewing delight of company.
Simple in form, tansu are multifunctional practical furnishings that make a perfect accent piece anywhere in your home.
The interior and exterior is polished with kanna (Japanese hand planes) prior to applying 8~10 coats of the finest Shellac finish. I take much pride in the finish. I have been perfecting the technique for more than a decade and I feel this piece is my best work .
It is complimented with hand forged Iron Warabite style handles
Removable boxes are an added delight.
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The back panels were constructed with the same care and attention to detail as the front. Made from Koa, that had a classic gold Koa color but was as fine grained as any pattern grade mahogany that I have ever seen.
This piece works beautifully in any home and with all décor.
It’s timeless presences is at once modern and classic. From the town house to the beach house, it
blends harmoniously with other furnishings.
The traditional use
for this style of tansu was for entertaining. And was
probably used by those who favored the Sen Cha style of tea ceremony. Like the formal art surrounding Matcha,
there is a formal art surrounding Sencha, which is distinguished as Senchadō (煎茶道, the way of Sencha). Generally it involves the
high-grade gyokuro class of Sencha. This ceremony, more Chinese in style, was
introduced to Japan in the 17th century. The Chinese detailing of this "High Class" Chadansu reflects that aesthetic.
Matsu Kaze Woodworking
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