John Kelly was approached by Chuzo Tozawa to collaborate on a special project: to design something that was 'impossible' to make. Mr. Tozawa wanted to demonstrate to the world the great woodworking skills of Japan, and chose the designs of John Kelly as the vehicle.
Each piece is made from solid smoked European oak, and detailed with 'raden' inlays. There are 6 chairs, each with a unique back design. The joinery involves three dimensional mortise and tenons which are held together with friction fit 'tsuge' wedges, as well as curved half-lapped overlays with compound mitered tenons. The top of the dining table is made of only two book-matched boards that have natural edges. The sideboard has 'ginpaku' panels that can be arranged in three different configurations.
The Kisho series of furnishings represents both the designer's and craftsman's best abilities, and serves to bring together two dramatically different cultural aesthetics. Its limited production run allows the quality of woodworking to be truly exquisite.
