COLORS Real Wood Case collection - Shunkei Red

COLORS lacquered Shunkei Red (春慶漆) iPhone cases are made out of maple wood and they are by far my favourite ones. As usual, three variations are available - plain, carved with flat head knife and carved with U-shaped knife.

※Hida-Shunkei lacquer ware is a handcraft in the cities of Takayama and traditional Hida in Gifu Prefecture. The origin of this craft dates back to 1606. A head carpenter, who was engaged in building temples and shrines in the castle town of Takayama, happened to discover beautiful straight grains, when he chopped a piece of sawara cypress wood apart. He made it into a tray and lacquered the surface. Because the coloring of this tray resembled "Hishunkei," a famous tea ceremony tea jar made by master potter, Kato Kagemasa, the name Shunkei was given to this lacquer ware. What makes Hida Shunkei lacquer ware so special is the way that the beauty of the surface of the wood is brought out by the application of a transparent coating of lacquer.

When exposed to the light, the natural grains glow through the transparent lacquer. The more it is used, the more gloss it takes on. Hida Shunkei is extremely appealing and robust form of lacquer ware.