The Yuki paulownia chest is a chest of drawers made of paulownia wood produced in Yuki City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Its origins are said to trace back to the late Muromachi period, when chests using zelkova wood were made as furnishings for the residence of the local lord, the Yuki family. Because the Yuki family had planted paulownia trees throughout their domain, and paulownia's breathable, fire-resistant properties were recognized as well suited to storing clothing, chest-making using paulownia wood spread from the late Edo period onward. Paulownia wood expands in humid conditions to seal tightly and contracts when dry to improve ventilation, making it a prized material for storage furniture that protects kimono and valuables from mold and insect damage. In 1958 (Showa 33), it was designated a special product of Ibaraki Prefecture, and Yuki City is still counted today as one of Japan's eight major production areas. It has also long been cherished as a wedding furnishing, based on the tradition that if a paulownia tree is planted when a daughter is born, it can be crafted into a chest for her wedding by the time she marries.
Origin
In the Yuki region, the making of joinery and chests is said to have begun in the late Muromachi period, when chests using zelkova wood were made as furnishings for the residence of the local lord, the Yuki family. Since the Yuki family had planted paulownia trees throughout their domain, and paulownia wood - with its excellent breathability and moisture resistance - was well suited to storing clothing, chest-making gradually shifted toward the use of paulownia wood.
History
In the late Edo period, paulownia chest-making became widespread in the castle town of Yuki, and it spread to neighboring areas as a wedding furnishing. Production continued after the Meiji era, and in 1958 (Showa 33) it was designated a special product of Ibaraki Prefecture. Today, Yuki City is still counted as one of Japan's eight major production areas, and the handcrafted work of artisans known as 'kirisho' (paulownia masters) continues to be passed down.
Features
Paulownia wood contains countless microscopic cavities within its structure (a tylose structure), which cause the material to swell and seal gaps when humidity is high, and to shrink and improve ventilation when dry. This humidity-regulating property keeps fluctuations in humidity inside the chest to a minimum, protecting kimono and valuables from mold and insect damage. The traditional technique of 'yaki-giri' (fire-scorching), in which the surface is scorched over an open flame to add color and increase hardness, is also used, achieving both a beautiful grain and durability.
Techniques
Yaki-giri (Fire-Scorched) Finish
A traditional finishing technique in which the surface of the paulownia wood is scorched over an open flame, adding color while increasing hardness at the same time. Scorching is said to bring out the wood grain while also suppressing the growth of mold.
Materials Used
Artisans & Workshops
堀江桐タンス店
A shop in Yuki-nishi, Yuki City, specializing in solid paulownia chests for four generations. Its first-class certified craftsmen use only domestically grown paulownia, having continued making handcrafted paulownia chests for more than 70 years since its founding.
Official site →大塚桐たんす店
A workshop in Yuki, Yuki City, handling the manufacture, sale, repair, and remaking of paulownia chests. It also offers custom-made paulownia chests tailored to customers' preferences and living environments.
Official site →How to Buy
- 堀江桐タンス店
- The directly run workshop in Yuki-nishi, Yuki City, where customers can order new solid paulownia chests and consult with the craftsmen. Open 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (the workshop is closed on Sundays and public holidays).Where to buy →PR