Japanese Wabi Sabi Low Table, Japan mid-20th century (sold)

Japanese Wabi Sabi Low Table, Japan mid-20th century (sold)

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Grounded both figuratively and physically, this stunning low table is all about wood. According to the wabi sabi ideas, there is an elusive beauty to imperfection. Wabi sabi can be understood as an appreciation of a beauty that is doomed to disappear, or even an ephemeral contemplation of something that becomes more beautiful as it ages, fades, and consequently acquires a new charm. It then becomes easy to understand how this piece is close to this Japanese concept.

This low table has the same aesthetic and function as some traditional Asian low tables, including the Korean soban, the Chinese kang, or the Japanese chabudai. This type of table is always short-legged and is still used in traditional homes. Their height typically ranges from just 15 cm to a maximum height of 30 cm. As for their purposes, they can be used in numerous ways, such as study tables, work benches, or dinner tables. This may seem strange from a Western perspective, however, the grounded, cosy look and the inherent organic charm of this style has found its way into modern spaces as well. This is no coincidence, as in most Western cultures, there was an early emphasis on wood as well, as it connected everyday objects, such as furniture to nature. The surface of this low table is larger than its Asian relatives’ which is advantageous when the goal is showing off the material’s natural beauty. The design is pared-down, and uncluttered with unnecessary ornament in a true wabi sabi manner. In this side table the horizontal and vertical lines and surfaces are emphasized with clear edges simple joinery. The slender legs are carved from a single piece of wood, further adding to the grounded, earthy aesthetic.

Long before the mid-century, Japanese designers and craftsmen believed that furniture should be shorn of aesthetic detail and be an amalgam of form and function. This table, while shorn of decoration but not aesthetic details, is a beautiful example of this mindset and the timeless charm of traditional craftsmanship.

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