Iwayado Tansu is a traditional wooden chest of drawers made in the Iwayado district of Esashi, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture. Its origins trace back to the Tenmei era (1781-1788), when the lord of Iwayado Castle at the time is said to have had his retainers research the commercialization of wooden furniture such as wheeled chests and long chests. In the Bunsei era (1818-1830), the blacksmith Tokubei devised engraved metal fittings, which became the prototype for the Iwayado Tansu known today. Made from zelkova and paulownia wood, the craft is defined by its combination of rich, heavy lacquer finishes that bring out the natural wood grain and elaborate, hand-forged and hand-engraved metal fittings. It was designated a Traditional Craft by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in 1982, and the careful, divided craftsmanship of woodworking, lacquering, and metal fitting is still passed down today.
Origin
The origins of Iwayado Tansu are said to date to the Tenmei era (1781-1788), when Iwaki Muramasa, the lord of Iwayado Castle at the time, had his retainer Mishina Mozaemon research the commercialization of wooden furniture such as wheeled chests and long chests. The area also has a history as the original base of Fujiwara no Kiyohira, the first head of the Oshu Fujiwara clan who built the Hiraizumi culture before relocating there, and traditions of metal casting and woodworking had already taken root there from early times.
History
In the Bunsei era (1818-1830), the blacksmith Tokubei devised engraved metal fittings, which are said to have become the prototype for the Iwayado Tansu of today. At its peak, the area had 50 to 60 small household workshops producing chests through a divided labor system of woodworking, lacquering, and metal fitting, employing around 150 craftspeople in total. In 1982 it was designated a Traditional Craft by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and today several companies continue production in Esashi, Oshu City.
Features
The defining feature of Iwayado Tansu is its combination of rich, heavy lacquer finishes that bring out the beauty of the zelkova or paulownia wood grain with sturdy, elaborate metal fittings made by hand-forging and hand-engraving. Woodworking is considered the 'lifeblood' of chest-making, and the tradition of a single craftsperson handling the entire woodworking process from start to finish is still upheld today. The metal fittings apply engraving techniques derived from Nanbu Tekki ironware, producing an impressive design where woodworking and metalworking merge.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Woodworking (kijizukuri)
Zelkova and paulownia timber is selected and dried, then assembled into the form of the chest. A single craftsperson handles the entire process.
- 2
Lacquering
Lacquer is carefully applied in layers to the wood base, bringing out the beauty of the grain.
- 3
Making and fitting the metalwork
Iron plates are hand-forged and hand-engraved with patterns to make the fittings, which are then attached to the chest.
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Artisans & Workshops
岩谷堂箪笥生産協同組合
A cooperative association of five companies that manufacture Iwayado Tansu. It serves as the point of contact for inquiries on behalf of the production area.
Official site →株式会社岩谷堂タンス製作所（I・T・S）
An Iwayado Tansu maker based in Esashi, Oshu City, with its own workshop and showroom. It displays and sells items ranging from small accessories to full-scale chests.