Table, Hinoki Wood, 1915
Hinoki may not be a familiar term, but it is in reference to Chamaecyparis obtusa, the Japanese cypress tree. This wood is very durable and is used in Japan to build temples and shrines, and is often used as a construction material for its resistance to warping, splitting and rotting. The oils of the bark, wood and foliage are used as an essential oil.
This table purchased by A. M. Todd is thought to be an example of furniture that was carved in Japan during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries for the export market. A metal tag on the table reads, “Tōyō shōkai,” or “East Asia Company,” the company that either manufactured or sold the piece.
Object #32.860