Spalted Japanese chestnut tray by Masahito Ikeda

This spalted tochi (Japanese chestnut) tray follows the proportions of obon (Japanese trays) intended, among other things, to hold tea utensils or sweets. Its light wood is crisscrossed by fine dark lines and natural patterns evoking ink-drawn landscapes. These exceptional motifs, resulting from a natural phenomenon called spalting, give each piece an absolutely unique character. The purity of its rectangular shape and the softness of its shades highlight the full beauty of this singular material, in a subtle balance between simplicity and refinement.

The artisan
Masahito Ikeda, born in 1978 in Hyōgo and raised in Ōsaka, studied interior design at Seian Zōkei University and then completed a professional woodworking course in Matsubara, Ōsaka. He founded his brand, Thursday Furniture, in 2015 in Nishinomiya (Hyōgo Prefecture) and set up his workshop in 2017 in Toyonaka (Ōsaka Prefecture). His work focuses on solid wood and reclaimed wood, with attention to the traces of time and natural textures, and ranges from furniture to turned objects for the home.

Technique and decoration
The tray is crafted from tochi (Japanese chestnut, Aesculus turbinata), a wood appreciated in Japanese craftsmanship for its light color, fine grain, and uniform texture. Its cream and slightly rosy beige shades provide a particularly remarkable background here for the patterns of the spalted wood, called suporuteddo in Japanese.

Spalting is a natural phenomenon caused by the activity of certain fungi that grow in wood in the presence of moisture. These organisms produce pigments and mark out their territories with dark lines, called zone lines, formed notably by melanin-rich fungal structures. These winding lines are sometimes accompanied by variations in color and create unpredictable patterns, impossible to reproduce identically, which are particularly sought after for their singular beauty.

On this tray, the brown-black lines stretch lengthwise, branch out, and draw irregular shapes on a light background with honey and ivory shades. The inner surface, delicately sculpted by hand, reveals fine facets that catch the light and highlight the natural patterns of the wood. The four straight edges form an elongated rectangle with harmonious proportions, whose sobriety contrasts with the richness of the wood's patterns. Masahito Ikeda thus gives full expression to the spontaneous character of the material, transforming this exceptional natural phenomenon into a piece of great delicacy.

Place of manufacture
Japan (Toyonaka, Ōsaka Prefecture)

Dimensions
Length 31 cm - Width 9.5 cm - Height 3 cm

Weight
208 g

Materials
Spalted tochi (Japanese chestnut)

Period
Contemporary

Care instructions
Wipe after use with a soft, slightly damp cloth, avoid prolonged soaking, detergents, and direct heat. Do not put in the dishwasher, oven, or microwave.