Bamboo is not wood — it is a grass. It grows faster, is lighter, and has a different grain structure. Anji bamboo, harvested in winter when moisture is lowest, is dried for three years before working. This prevents cracking and gives the bamboo a warm, honey-toned patina.
Bamboo craft involves splitting the bamboo into thin strips, then weaving or pinning them into form. No nails, no glue — the structure holds by tension and fit. The weaving patterns are centuries old, passed from master to apprentice. A simple tray takes a day; a complex basket can take a week.
Bamboo objects are designed for daily use. Trays for tea, holders for incense, boxes for storage, baskets for flowers. The bamboo is lightweight, warm to the touch, and develops a patina with use. Over years, the colour deepens from pale green to warm amber — a record of how the object has been lived with.