This is a wooden bench made in Japan between the Taisho era and the early Showa era, roughly one hundred years ago. It was used for many years in an old private house in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and we were able to hear about it directly from the contractor who handled the demolition of that house. With old furniture the origin is usually lost altogether, so this is a piece with a reliable provenance whose place of use is clearly known. Beyond that, however, nothing further about its history is known.
The top board is made of Japanese cedar (sugi). Over many long years the softer parts of the wood have worn away, leaving only the growth rings raised faintly as fine ridges. When you run your palm across it, those slight undulations come through clearly. It is the kind of surface that can only be born from being touched again and again by hands and tools, like a shallow uzukuri finish.
For the legs, forked tree branches have been used just as they were. A branch that divides in two was split lengthwise down the middle, and the cut face was turned inward and set into the top board. It is a wonderfully generous way of making something, using the Y shape of the branch as it is. We do not know what kind of wood the legs themselves are, but square wooden pegs have been driven in from the top of the board, and a single cedar plank has been fitted between the legs, holding the whole piece firmly together. This method of using branches as legs can also be seen in the Kanto region, and we believe it was a design shared among farming villages throughout Japan.
This is not the work of a furniture craftsman. It was most likely made by hand by someone in the village with a little skill in woodwork, or by a farmer themselves. Yet that is exactly what gives it a softness and a gentleness, an approachability that makes you want to reach out and touch it.
Originally the legs were about 10 cm longer than they are now, and it is thought to have been used as a work table for farming. Looking closely at the edge of the top board, a number of small cuts have been carved into it, hinting at the days when something was being cut there. At the same time, it stood at just the right height for a person to sit down on. This is only our imagination, but perhaps there were also moments when someone who had finished a job sat here and caught their breath.
As it was, it stood rather tall, so we cut the legs down so that it can be used comfortably as a chair or bench. The height is 44 cm and the width is 77 cm, dimensions on which an adult can sit at ease. Sitting on it, there is no wobbling and no uneasy creaking; the structure is solid.
Place it in an entryway as a seat for putting on shoes. Set it beside a sofa as a side table. Or display a vase, a stone, or a vessel on top and use it as a stand just as it is. In a space of exposed concrete or white walls, the dry, faded color of the wood and its uneven outline stand out, quietly drawing the room together like an object.
Regarding the condition: there are insect holes and traces of insect damage in the legs. These are all from an old period, and there are no insects present now. Elsewhere, small chips and fine scratches can be seen here and there, but they are within the range of the character that comes with age. The wood has not become thin or soft, so it can be used without any problem.
This is a piece that quietly supported the simple daily work of a Japanese farming household for a long time. There is not another one the same. We would be delighted if you took to it together with the history and culture of everyday life in Japan.
Size: W77cm x D31.5cm x H44cm
Weight: 5.5kg
Item No.: CH068
[Our Social Role]
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We are a specialized team dealing in antiques and vintage items, comprised of stores based on three distinct brands. While focusing on Japanese items, we also offer a carefully curated selection of attractive goods from around the world-each evoking the culture and history of its country of origin.
Unlike the traditional Japanese antique furniture and art that have been appreciated overseas until now, we shine a light on the tools and furniture that were used for many years in ordinary Japanese homes and farmhouses. These objects have gained a unique charm over time, their beauty deepened by the history accumulated through daily life. In today's world, however, many of these precious items are discarded during home demolitions. We are committed to reassessing their value and passing them on to future generations.
Drawing from our extensive experience-having seen tens of thousands of items through direct purchases, markets, and auction houses-we carefully select and present only the most captivating pieces. This is something made possible only through the years of knowledge and expertise we have cultivated.
Rather than focusing on the widely known facets of Japanese art and culture, we highlight the subtle beauty born from the everyday life of common people. It is this rediscovered beauty, steeped in history, that we strive to share with the world.
