Another small Japanese chest or Kodansu. I love the ingenuity of many Japanese style boxes, which have no parallel with usual western style boxes with hinged lids. This one is based on a style used by the Japanese for storing incense and items to do with Kodo - the incense ceremony, or as a 'box' for writing/calligraphy paraphernalia a - Suzuribako.
There's lots of ideas here on one of my Pinterest pages. Covered Kodansu
The outer lid/cover is made from veneered plywood - which looks like walnut but isn't, and no, I don't know what it is. The interior and everything else is made from walnut and bits of jarrah for some of the frames.
The 'lid' is held on with Japanese Sanada Himo tape.
To give you an idea of scale, this is it with a ruler, and one of my other Kodansu Carp Islands. Yes its quite small, which means is relatively quick to do, but fiddly at the same time, which is what I like!
Not having mastered the art of makie yet - Japanese 'gold sprinkled' lacquer decoration. I've used some shell inlays as decoration.
This is where it gets its name from - the Tiger on the Top. I get the inlays from a luthier supplier in Vietnam - great value given the amount of time it would take me to make them!
Take off the outer lid/cover and you get to this …... the internal lid
Below the internal lid are four stacking trays, fitting on a base which acts as another tray.
Each tray has different items of Calligraphy paraphernalia.
The top tray holds a circular inkstone and water dropper.
The next one down has, brushes, an inkpot, a brush rest and a seal.
Then we have an ink-stick in a small paulownia box, with two inlayed Jarrah paper weights.
The next one down has two seals, and the vermilion 'mud' pot.
Finally, the base holds different coloured ink sticks.
The shell line design on the outside of the trays was done as a way of making sure the trays were replaced in the correct way - alas they weren't accurate enough for their positions to be interchangeable - must do better!
It was great fun sourcing all the bits and pieces for the trays, and working out the small frames to hold them all. Most items came from AliExpress and the whole lot probably didn't cost more than A$70.
As ever thanks for looking. If you've any questions then please do ask.
Thanks all - yes I really enjoyed making it. As I've said before, make something which holds specific items is a greater challenge, and more fun for me, than an empty box that c,n be any Suze. Alas it sold as soon as it went to the gallery, as did all the kodsnsu/small chests that I've posted here. Brian: it's not new, - I did post over there. Ah yes, the splines - no not Japanese. From what I've seen they usually rely just on the strength of glue on butt joints or mitres. I did use splines a lot and often veneered over the top to disguise them. But not good on drawers as any fine adjustment can lead to you sanding through the veneer - I guess a few of us have been there. Recently on tiny drawers and internal boxes I've just used a mitres and glue. Though I do use a scalpel to score the faces of the mitres so it gives a key for the glue - seems to work, particularly if the bottom is in a well fitting groove. Splinter - it's a 12 inch /300mm ruler. Thanks again boys, it's always good to read your comments and answer your questions.
