Turning Japanese > The Tokonoma Series

The tokonoma is a designated space within a Japanese home or teahouse that provides for a "space of contemplation". Often, there is a handpainted scroll hanging on the wall, with an ikebana arrangement in front of it, and one of the vertical beams is often a large natural wood form or bamboo that supports or frames part of this space.

These cabinet forms were meant to be "portable" tononoma, one can move it from one room to another or from one house to another. The all have a natural branch within its space and a specific theme.

photos: Michael Slattery