TOKYO Teshigoto

Tokyo Gakubuchi is a frame used to protect and decorate paintings, calligraphy, photographs, and other artworks. It developed alongside interior decorative arts such as byōbu (folding screens) and fusuma (sliding doors). There are two types of frames: wagaku (Japanese-style frames) and yōgaku (western-style frames). The former is a simple and understated frame, while the latter developed alongside the spread of western-style paintings and features decorations made using wooden molds to create a luxurious appearance. In the past, sashimono (cabinetwork), carving, coating and other tasks were carried out separately by specialized craftsmen. In Tokyo Gakubuchi, these skills are consolidated and applied in a continuous operation by one craftsman.