Japan Handturned wood
In a quiet workshop nestled among forested hills, each piece of timber begins its transformation at the lathe. Guided entirely by hand, the artisan feels the rhythm of the grain, adjusting pressure and motion as the wood reveals its form. Every bowl, vessel, or sculpture carries subtle traces of these gestures — fine concentric rings that mark both time and touch.
Meet the Artisans:
In 2003, Shinichi and Yasue Iida left their careers in interior design to pursue woodturning as self-taught artists. They moved to Izu-Kogen – a small, scenic town nestled in Itō, Japan – where they work exclusively with a lathe, experimenting with the possibilities of a cylindrical starting point. At every turn, their work considers the Japanese concept of sabi, which explores the beauty of natural ageing. While some pieces are exposed to rain and soil to encourage the distinctive patina that they refer to as an ‘earth finish’, others are dyed via ash mordanting to create a reddish hue that will fade to brown over time.
