This is a Japanese kumiko andon (lamp) I recently made for a competition here in Australia. The four panels are all removable to allow replacement of the shoji paper on the back.

The kumiko patterns in the panels are asa-no-ha (hemp leaf), kawari-asa-no-ha (asa-no-ha variation); kawari-yae-zakura (multiple sakura (cherry blossom) variation); and the yae-asa-no-ha (multiple asa-no-ha).

There are more than 7,000 individual pieces in the andon. All joints in the panels have been cut by hand using either handsaws or hand-planes.

 

The last photo gives an indication of the size of the individual pieces. The coin is an Australian 5c piece, slightly larger than the US small cent (?), and smaller than the Nickel. Work this small is impossible without a range of specialist Japanese hand-planes, one of which is shown in the photo.

 

All wood used is Australian hardwood. The timbers are silver ash, Tasmanian blackwood, and Australian red cedar. The base kumiko are 1.75 mm (slightly over 1/16 inch) thick, and the internal decorative pieces are 1.25 mm thick (just over 3/64 inch). The size of the lamp is 240 x 240 x 700 mm.

 

kskdesign.com.au

Launch Gallery