NAGISO Rokuro Zaiku (Wood Turnery)
According to an old document found in Nagiso, turnery began in the area sometime during the first half of the 18th century, when unfinished trays and bowls were being sent to Nagoya and Osaka. For this to be the case, lathes must have started turning sometime before.
A feature of Nagiso turnery is the way the work fully expresses the qualities of the underlying wood, making the most of the natural grains in an unassuming fashion. Exemplifying its handmade appeal, each piece makes fine use of the minute variations of grain and color in the selected woods. Items produced today include mainly trays and bowls of various types.
Feature
Nagiso turned wood products bring out the pristine beauty and warmth of the natural wood from which they are made. Each piece of wood is carefully selected in consideration of the product to be made, taking into account the wood’s qualities and how they change over time.
How to make
First, the bark is stripped and a brush is used to clean away any dirt. Then, the condition of the bark’s surface and the surface of the cut is carefully checked, instantly allowing the craftsman to know when the tree was cut, where it was grown, its age when cut, its present condition, how the wood will continue to age, the fine variations of its color and the unique properties of its woodgrain. With this information, the craftsman can decide how best to bring out the beauty of the woodgrain and the fundamental shape of the tree in the final product.
