Bamboo fork Wiping lacquer Raw lacquer (brown)

We received many requests from customers who use wooden plates and wipe-lacquerware, saying, "I want wooden cutlery because metal cutlery will scratch the wipe-lacquer and wooden utensils." This is a series of bamboo cutlery made through repeated trial and error.

Metal cutlery has long been popular in situations where it is used as a set with porcelain, such as in Western cuisine, and in situations where metal utensils are used as well, such as in Korea. Today's dining tables in Japan use tableware made from a variety of materials, including ceramics, wood, and glass. It's not only shaped like a plate, but I think it's more like a bowl or bowl, so it's often difficult to use metal cutlery.

On the other hand, there are many wooden spoons and forks, but due to the characteristics of the material, many of them are thick, and I felt that many of them were used with the feeling of "enjoying wooden materials" as a priority.

I want to make it with a thin shape that is close to the stainless steel cutlery that I am used to, and with a material that is soft to the touch. With that in mind, I decided to use bamboo as the material. Bamboo is more flexible than wood, and can be split along the direction of its fibers into very fine pieces. We have worked with a workshop in Kyoto that deals with tea utensils, and have tried many prototypes to make it as thin as possible. It is made by drying and sawing bamboo from the bamboo grove in Kyoto, which is managed by the studio.

There are two things that I was particular about with the shape of the fork.

The first is "as thin as possible". The teeth should be narrow and pointed. I pursued the shape as much as possible with bamboo. You can stab fruits and vegetables like a metal fork and eat them. When eating thin noodles such as pasta, it is difficult to use three forks, so the fork has four teeth. For strength and ease of use, we have slightly changed the thickness of the teeth in the middle and both ends.

The second is to make the handle thin and long. The handle is not the same as the spoons in the same series, but it is long and thin. The handle is thin so that it can be easily turned when eating pasta by wrapping the noodles around. up to about the same thickness Because the width is narrowed, the pattern looks like a square when viewed from above. I also increased the length for the same reason.

In this way, the bare wood (main body) is completed, and then the coating finish. Without coating, the resistance to water and oil is weak, and maintenance becomes difficult. The urethane coating loses the feel of the bamboo, and the smell when scooping hot things is a concern. Bamboo processing and lacquering are completely different craftsmen, so the price goes up considerably (this is one of the reasons why urethane coating is often used), but the finish is wiped lacquer.

The front part of the handle with knots is the outer skin of the bamboo. This part repels moisture and lacquer well and does not stick even if painted, so the color of the outer skin of the bamboo remains.

There are two types of colors: “raw lacquer (brown)” and “black lacquer”.

“Raw lacquer (brown)” is refined lacquer by removing dust from lacquer sap collected from lacquer trees. It can be said that it is the color of so-called "lacquer". Depending on the wood to be painted, it will be finished in a bright brown color.

"Black lacquer" is lacquer that is blackened by mixing pine smoke with lacquer and reacting with it. It's not a pigment, it's a black unique to lacquer.

When you try it, you will be able to experience the softness of the mouthfeel and the gentle texture. Metal cutlery sometimes mixes the taste of ingredients with the taste of metal, but you don't have to worry about that with this fork.

The cutlery is something that touches the mouth directly, but it is made from only bamboo and lacquer, so it is also recommended as a gift.


【material】
bamboo kyoto
Wiping lacquer Unrefined lacquer (brown)

【size】
Total length: 19cm

[About care]
・Please avoid soaking in water for a long time.
・Avoid washing with a hard brush. The lacquer coating may be scraped off.
・After washing with water, wipe off the water with a cloth.

[About individual differences]
- Uses natural bamboo. The positions of the knots on the handle are different. If you have a preference for the position of the knot, please let us know when ordering. If you order more than one, we will choose the one closest to you. Please note that all of them will be supported within the range of stock.
・Similarly, how the color of the wiping lacquer is applied differs depending on the individual bamboo. Although the wipe lacquer has been applied enough times, there may be a slight difference in color shade from the photo.

*Frequently Asked Questions/Supplementary Comments*

・Two colors of "raw lacquer (brown)" and "black lacquer", "fork (large)" and "small Fork (small)" 2 sizes, there are "spoon" in each color and size.