Ordering a shoji
Thank you for your interest in traditional shoji.
* Please note that I no longer make the larger shoji screens or the folding shoji screens, only smaller kumiko work. This page and the folding shoji screen page have been left on the website for archive and information purposes.
The shoji I make are hand-crafted using traditional Japanese joinery techniques, and the attention to detail and professionalism I commit to every piece ensures that your shoji will serve you as you would and should expect for many years.
Regardless of how simple or complex the pattern is, all my shoji incorporate what is known as a tsukeko. This is an internal frame of roughly 6-7 mm wide that houses the kumiko pattern. This internal frame is then attached to the main frame through the kumiko tenons. Often omitted from shoji because of the extra work involved and added cost, the tsukeko internal frame gives the shoji a much greater feeling of quality and elegance.
I only use professional grade shoji paper in my shoji. Shoji paper breathes, and provides a degree of temperature and humidity control. Additionally, shoji paper gives a warmth and provides beautiful light diffusion that is unmatched by acrylic sheeting. The paper is not delicate, and is quite durable, but it will tear if poked or the shoji are handled roughly. If, though, you treat the shoji with the care that you would give to any other expensive piece of furniture, the possibility of accidental tears will be kept to a minimum.
The standard shoji I make is single-sided. This means that the kumiko pattern is on one side only. While initially this may seem as though there is an attractive front and a less-than-attractive back, in reality this is certainly not the case. This is the normal shoji style in Japan, and both sides can be as attractive as each other. Shoji paper is translucent, and from the back, the kumiko pattern appears as an attractive shadow cast on the paper.
All my shoji are hand-plane finished. In some cases I will use sandpaper, but this is kept to the absolute minimum. I can apply a surface finish to the main frame only, but this will be at additional cost.
Please have a look around my website to see the kind of craftsmanship and professionalism I apply to every piece I make, regardless of whether it is kumiko artwork with thousands of individual pieces, or simple shoji doors or screens to give your room or home a Japanese feel.
The above is a brief outline of the kind and quality of shoji you can expect if you commission me to make your shoji. Before I can begin, though, I need to know the following information.
- Whether the shoji will slide in grooves, or in a mechanical tracking system. If it is in a mechanical tracking system, I'll need to know the dimensions that the shoji are to be made, taking into account the dimensions of the tracking system to be attached to the top of the shoji. The tracking systems will have to be supplied and fitted by the person installing the shoji.
- An accurate measurement of the opening into which the shoji will fit. Please take these measurements (height and width) with a metal tape measure (not a cloth tape measure). From the width measurement, I can recommend the number of shoji panels that would provide the best look.
- The type of kumiko pattern you would like — simple, or more complex. The simple patterns are simply vertical and horizontal kumiko that extend the full length. Within this “simple” category, I have a number of designs that can add interest beyond the standard rectangular pattern. The complex patterns include any of the floral or other patterns you see in this website, and many more.
As a very general guide, the cost of a simple patterned shoji up to 1800 x 850 mm will be roughly $850 (including GST) per panel. This can include up to a total of 10 horizontal and vertical kumiko per panel. It also includes one inlaid door handle (door pull) per panel. The following photo is an example of a pair of shoji screens with a simple, standard pattern. The arrangement of the kumiko pattern can be altered to suit your design preference.
Delivery will be extra, and will be at cost. I can ship the shoji to all parts of Australia.
I do not do any installation work, so you will need to make arrangements for a carpenter to do the necessary door or window framing work for you. If you would like a set of shoji that slide in grooves in the traditional manner, I can provide your carpenter with detailed instructions on groove dimensions, and on the final fitting of the shoji into the grooves. Once I'm commissioned to make the shoji, I'm always available to discuss specific installation needs with your carpenter or installer.
The following is a diagram of the simple shoji shown above with the different part names, which may help you with your decision (please click on the diagram for a larger image).
If you would like some more information, please send me an email through the Contact page here.
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