Kaminoka Paper Flower Basket

A small basket of folded washi flowers, made by Tsumami Kanzashi Ayano, a workshop in Matsudo, Chiba, led by Ayano Fujii, a designated maker of Chiba Prefecture's traditional craft of Edo tsumami kanzashi. Each petal is hand-folded one square of paper at a time using the centuries-old tsumami technique normally reserved for silk hair ornaments. Here, that same technique is brought down from the formal occasion and into the everyday: a quiet ornament for a shelf, an entryway, or a bedside table.

The "kaminoka" (紙ノ香, "scent of paper") series uses Japanese hand-made washi instead of silk, which lets the flowers double as a passive aroma diffuser. Place a few drops of your favorite essential oil onto the petals and the absorbent washi carries the scent gently into the room: no electricity, no heat, no plastic.

The basket is turned from domestic hinoki cypress and finished with a urethane coat to protect the wood from oils. The flowers are fixed in place inside the basket; simply drop essential oil onto the petals to re-scent them. A piece that gives both visual and olfactory presence to a small corner of the home.

• Material (flowers): Japanese hand-made washi paper (国産手漉き和紙)
• Material (vessel): Hinoki cypress (ヒノキ), urethane finish
• Dimensions: φ90 × H85 mm
• Weight: approx. 120 g
• Package size: φ100 × H100 mm
• Color: White
• Use: Drop a small amount of essential oil onto the washi petals; re-apply as the scent fades
• Care: Keep away from direct sunlight and humidity; do not wash
• Origin: Matsudo, Chiba, Japan (handmade)
• Maker: Tsumami Kanzashi Ayano (つまみかんざし彩野)
• Lead time: approx. 1 month (up to 2 months in busy seasons); each piece is made to order

Note: Because each piece is folded entirely by hand, no two are exactly alike. Slight individual differences in shape, petal angle, and color are natural to the craft.

Please note: essential oil is not included.

Depending on the essential oil used, the color of the flower may change.

About the maker: Tsumami Kanzashi Ayano is a team of women artisans led by Ayano Fujii, a designated maker of Chiba Prefecture's traditional craft. Their concept is "tsumami-zaiku for everyday life": taking a technique born in Edo-period Japan and bringing it into modern interiors and wardrobes. A thoughtful gift for someone who appreciates handmade craft and a calmer home.