Yosegi Marquetry Craft Letter Rack (HK106)

Yosegi-zaiku (寄木細工) is a type of traditional Japanese marquetry which originated during Japan's culturally rich Edo period. It has become widely known and respected throughout the world. The mosaic work is made by making use of natural fine grains and textures of wood. Timbers of different colors are cut into oblong rods of desired sections. Spindle tree (Euonymus spp.) and Ilex macropoda are used for white, aged Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) for black, Picrasma quassioides, mulberry (Morus alba) and Chinese lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) for yellow, camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) and Maackia for brown, black walnut (Juglans nigra) for purple, Japanese cucumber tree (Magnolia obovata) for blue and Chinese cedar (Toona sinensis) for red. The rods are then glued together to form the section of geometrical design pattern often called a seed plate. The seed plate is then either sliced into thin layers (the Zuku technique), which are glued onto boxes and other handicraft works or the entire plate is carved out (the Muku technique) to create a single piece. To add to the glaze and sturdiness of the surface, finishing coatings of lacquer are applied.