When I was very young and a goldsmith's apprentice, I learned the word "Shibui." It was, I was told, the goal we were to strive for in our work. It was presented as the ideal of craftsmanship and beauty in my trade, and I came to love the word. If a color scheme is to be shibui, the large areas should be dark, rich, and unobtrusive, but with a touch of sharp, astringent color to add interest.

Shibui is the essence of controlled understatement, and requires an attitude of modesty and humility. When I opened my own store, I called it Shibui to honor my childhood and the ideal of beauty I strive to bring my customers.

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Sample Books

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From personal collections or from fabric companies, these books offer different fabrics and styles from the Japanese textile traditions. Japanese Vintage (Early 20th Century) Bashofu Katazome & Kasuri Fabric Sample Book | Swatches of Stencil-Dyed Fabric Made From Banana Tree Fiber.

Flower Baskets

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Basketry has played a prominent role in Japanese society for centuries. Originally as work baskets, then recognizing the beauty of a basket full from gathering flowers, eventually becoming a centerpiece of the home. Traditional families would adorn a single hand-woven bamboo basket in the tokonoma (an alcove which is the focal point of a room) with an Ikebana flower arrangement to express the season, bringing time and nature into their home. Each basket is unique, a marvel of design and technique. For some renowned baskets, provenance can be traced back for centuries.

Kitchen Chests

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Cabinetry for the storage of ceramics, foodstuffs, and tea wares offers us a variety of chests and cupboards for our own kitchen and entertainment storage needs. The history of such kitchen chests, known as Mizuya-dansu dates back to the Edo period in the town of Hikone near Lake Biwa. It was here that a tall stacking chest, placed near the cooking area, originated.

Merchant Chests

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The Edo period (1615-1868) was the era of the merchant. The political consolidation under the Tokugawa shogunate offered the country a rare peace lasting more than 200 years. A unified country, albeit in isolation, bolstered economic growth on national and local levels. The businessman, relegated to the lowest social position effectively used these opportunities to enrich and empower themselves.

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