Masterwal, a widely respected brand with numerous stores across Japan, particularly in Okayama Prefecture, has initiated a project called “CRAFT SCAPE BY MASTERWAL “ to innovate interior accessories. This initiative merges local craft techniques from various regions with Masterwal’s expertise in wood processing.
The goal of this project is to bring together local artisans with their profound crafting techniques to create new interior designs and accessories. These creations embody the essence of traditional crafts, thereby contributing to the revitalisation of Japanese craftsmanship.
The CRAFT SCAPE BY MASTERWAL series features Tokengama, a Kyoto-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki studio, to coincide with the renovation of Masterwal’s Kyoto store. This collection launch includes flower vases and fruit bowls crafted by blending handmade pottery created on a potter’s wheel with wood and leather scraps sourced from Masterwal’s workshop.
CRAFT SCAPE BY MASTERWAL
STICK is a vase made by combining a ceramic cylindrical body with a walnut timber holder. The walnut timber is created with off-cuts from Masterwal’s furniture, joined in a T-shape, with holes drilled at the joints to hold the ceramic tube. The ceramic is made on a highly precise hand-made potter’s wheel and fits into carefully machined holes with only slight clearance.
The STICK VASE is available in two sizes, short and tall so you can create different heights even with the same flower. This vase stands out from the lovely contrast of the two different materials.
The GRIP vase is a unique creation formed by carving out a section of hand-formed ceramic on a potter’s wheel using a tool called a kakibera. This recessed area is then delicately wrapped in leather, repurposed from leftover material used in furniture seat manufacturing. The leather is meticulously hand-sewn along the seams to add a distinctive accent. Despite its handmade nature, the vase exemplifies precise craftsmanship, beautifully merging ceramic and leather into a harmonious whole.
The GRIP VASE is available in two shapes: a tall and slender shape, and a shorter, wider design. The size and height of both are made to perfectly display flowers and bouquets.
The FLOAT fruit bowl blends a hand-formed, rounded ceramic plate crafted on a potter’s wheel with a base constructed from 3 parts of walnut timber scraps, carefully processed and joined together. The ceramic’s naturally curved and unstable form is stabilised and elevated by the addition of a wooden base that supports it at three points from below. This combination of materials and its tall profile create a distinctive piece ideal for enhancing any dining table or sideboard.
This creation leverages the advanced techniques of Tokengama, renowned for shaping ceramics with thin, large diameters. Meanwhile, Masterwal’s expertise ensures a seamless union of the three walnut pieces at the bowl’s base, maximising the strengths of each material in this elegant fruit bowl design.
PRODUCTION : TOKEN-GAMA
PROJECT DIRECTION : MASTERWAL
Photos by Akihito Mori