This design uses natural wood sliced into paper-thin slices of veneer called.
Sheets of veneer are usually as a surface for other wood, but by using layers of veneer alone, we were able to create smooth curves. The result is what appear to be sheets of paper being turned, and the sizes match those of A5 and A6 paper. The bent corners serve as handles, and turn the item into something that can serve as either a plate or a tray. The techniques required to create these plates are used by master carpenters called “sashimonoshi” who create Buddhist altars, bureaus, and other furniture.
This project is a collaboration between Katsuhisa Toda, a traditional carpenter in Shizuoka JAPAN, and studio yumakano. These designs were developed to help solve the problems around traditional crafts through the concept of “everyday crafts”, extending the breadth of ordinary work, rather than struggling to develop something entirely new.