Paulownia Sutra Box

Born in Chiba City, Nakadai Zuishin moved to Tokyo to study under the master woodworker Takeuchi Fuzan, learning the craft of making boxes and tea ceremony utensils as well as openwork carving. He repeatedly exhibited at the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, and was designated a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure) for his woodworking mastery. Paulownia is a soft wood and its grain is easily raised, making it difficult to achieve a beautiful surface finish. Here, Zuishin used wood from centuries-old paulownia trees, carving the lid and body each from single pieces of wood. The complex curved surfaces and glossy finish are characteristic of the artist’s consummate craftsmanship. There are few woodworking artists specializing in paulownia, making this work a guiding example technically, as well as extraordinary in aesthetic terms. (N.R.)