http://www.woodreview.com.au 43PROFILEand have the ability to cross the world
in pursuit of my dreams. Being back
home gives me perspective on just
how different my life has become –
and how much my apprenticeship has
shaped who I am today.
Learning the craft skills of another
culture in its country of origin must give
you the ability to compare. What are the
differences you see between timbers, tools,
skills and attitudes?
In Canada we appreciate and value
beautiful timbers but most craftsmen
buy their wood from a lumber dealer
or a sawyer. In Japan, knowledge of an
intact tree and the environment from
which it came is critical to the finished
product. Pieces are never built from
different trees of the same variety. As a
craftsman in Japan, you are intimately
aware of your supply chain, and work
with other professionals to cultivate,
harvest, mill and dry wood in such a
way that future generations are able to
carry on your efforts.
The first chair I built was made from a
cedar from Yoshino mountain in Japan.
It was planted by a woodworker like me
over 400 years ago. It was cared for by
generations of arborists in the Yoshino
mountain afforestation project before
it was purchased at auction by the local
sawyer. He consulted with our shop,
and milled the cedar according to the
requirements for that chair. In an effort
to minimise waste, our shop received
the heartwood from that cedar, while
the sapwood (which is not used for
furniture), was delivered to the local
chopstick maker.
All of this is to say that someone had
to be the first to plant and care for
trees in Japan for the benefit of future
professionals. Perhaps the Japanese
model is not suitable for every
community, but it certainly highlights
some of what we can achieve by
working cooperatively.
Photos: Benedict Viertelhausen
Contact Benedict via
Instagram @viertelhausen
- Triple Vibrato bench seat made by
Toshio Tokunaga - One of Benedict’s final projects made at
the Tokunaga furniture workshop. This
‘tatara type f’ chair with washi cord seat
weaving was one of the most technically
demanding chairs Benedict worked on.
6. Designed by Mori Kohtaro and made by
Benedict Viertelhausen with hand tools only,
‘Mori-san’s armchair is elegant, minimalist
and ultra comfortable. For me it ticks all the
boxes. I was lucky and very honoured to
have the chance to build a few with him.’
7. ‘Looking back on the first half of my
apprenticeship, it’s hard to believe I’ve
worked on every product in this shot.’
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