As our new product, we’ve released the “Fumibako” stationery box, a collaboration with DENTO. A wooden box traditionally used since the Edo period to store letters and important documents, it’s now a place to keep stationery, accessories, and other treasured items.
A relationship that began with dyeing a stool
DENTO is a brand that makes wooden furniture in the same prefecture of Hiroshima. Our relationship with them began when we dyed one of their stools.
(Stool: https://dentostore.jp/c/chair/113)
DENTO’s sincere approach to working with and shaping wood, a natural material, resonates with our own craft of growing indigo from the soil. Because we each take time to engage with nature, dyeing the stool fostered a deep relationship of trust between us.
The earthy character brought out by chestnut tannins and indigo
Our conversations over time took shape in this stationery box. Made from chestnut wood sourced in Hiroshima Prefecture, it is dyed with indigo. Hard and durable chestnut wood contains tannins, which react with the indigo to create a subdued, low-saturation blue. Its deep, mellow hue is distinct from that of dyed fabric—a color that can only be achieved with wood and indigo.
Precise woodworking infused with picture-frame-making techniques
DENTO, which crafted the wooden body of this product, was originally founded as a manufacturer of picture frames, folding screens, and tea ceremony utensils, before later moving into furniture making. As a result, this stationery box incorporates, down to the finest details, techniques honed through picture-frame making.
For example, to reinforce the box, grooves are cut into the corner joints and wooden “splines” are inserted. These strengthen the joints while adding a beautiful design accent. The lid, which evokes a picture frame, is made by joining four pieces cut at 45-degree angles using the miter-cutting and miter-joining techniques. Attention to detail down to the millimeter is key to the beauty of the finished piece.
It is thanks to their exquisite woodworking skills that our indigo has been elevated into a beautifully presented everyday object.
Let it grow with everyday use
Available in three sizes: large, medium, and small. Just as our indigo grows more vivid with use, solid wood develops a deeper luster as it is touched by hand. Enjoy the way the indigo and wood change and mature over time in the quiet moments of everyday life.
View the product details here.
Fumibako / Stationery Box: https://terroir-japan.com/products/stationery-box