Tomobako

[Darbotek]

Darbotek, I grew up in the Big Thicket and know East Texas humidity intimately. Visitors from Nacogdoches and Angelina counties would visit us and complain about how “sticky” it was. It wasn’t until I was an adult and had left the area and returned that I understood the meaning. You practically need gills to live there!

Kiri wood boxes will develop mold and get a musty smell. I know this from some of the antique tomobako that I have from Japan, also a humid place, with drafty houses.

I would suggest long term storage in sealed plastic bins/bags with desiccant, away from areas where they could have rapid temperature changes. They don’t do this in Japan afaik but then I have seen moldy tomobako.

Whew yeah. I’m sure the humidity down there make my neck (Tyler) seem like a desert. When I ever I think about the humidity down near the coast I think of the Karankawa, who would coast themselves with shark fat to repel the mosquitos. I can’t even begin to image the smell of a hardworking, sweaty human covered in shark fat.

That was my original idea, a Rubbermaid with some silica tucked away in it.

[Baisao]

@Darbotek, I sure could have used that Karankawa wisdom. Mosquitoes are bad of course but the clouds of stinging gnats were worse because the are so tiny they’d get through my hair and bite my scalp. The Big Thicket is a paradox of sorts: it’s rugged and unforgiving place of extreme heat/humidity, dangerous critters, and impenetrable forest; yet it is a veritable eden of flora and fauna, such that only a fool could go hungry there. We were mostly subsistence so we we spent most of our time actively in the Thicket hunting, fishing, and gathering seasonal foods/materials, comme de vrais Acadiens.

I read an account recently that was translated from French. Around 1825 the French built a settlement near on the Trinity River near Moss Hill and had told the Karankawa that it was temporary. After a year, the Karankawa captured some of the French trappers and ate parts of them. This so disturbed the rest of the French settlers that they left the area.

We frequently put in by canoe at that location on the Trinity River. Moss Hill to I-10 is still some of the most remote and difficult terrain in the area. I have huge respect for the Karankawa.

(Apologies to all for being OT)

[faj]

We were mostly subsistence so we we spent most of our time actively in the Thicket hunting, fishing, and gathering seasonal foods/materials, comme de vrais Acadiens.

Out of curiosity, are you of Acadian descent, or was that just a nod?

[Baisao]

We were mostly subsistence so we we spent most of our time actively in the Thicket hunting, fishing, and gathering seasonal foods/materials, comme de vrais Acadiens.

Out of curiosity, are you of Acadian descent, or was that just a nod?

Cajun, yes, though half of my line skipped Acadia and came to Louisiana directly from France.

[DailyTX]

Anyone who can help with deciphering this Tomobako? I think it's for a copper vessel/vase. The paper attached to the tomobako may be the artist?

[Bok]

How to tie knot on Japanese boxes
… that is my question?

does anyone have a good step by step tutorial for it? I feel like I’m doing it differently each time I close a box and never as pretty as when I received it from Japan…

Hope this is the right section of the forum to post this.

[Pants404]

I had a good laugh when I saw this post because it reminded me of the many tedious times I have sat over a box delicately trying to replicate how the knot was originally tied.
I too would appreciate some tips here.

[LeoFox]

http://www.e-yakimono.net/html/tie-the-box.html

[Bok]

I had a good laugh when I saw this post because it reminded me of the many tedious times I have sat over a box delicately trying to replicate how the knot was originally tied.
I too would appreciate some tips here.

It is, isn't it? I have sat in front of boxes not wanting to open them and trying hard to memorise how it was looking before. Try to unravel the least possible to replicate it when closing again…

[Bok]

http://www.e-yakimono.net/html/tie-the-box.html

That’s it! Perfect, thanks Mr Fox!