Hexagon box
Today, I started making Hexagon boxes for the Hakone market. About 30 years ago, a craftsman who is now retired made this box. Although I have never met him, I was asked by a wholesaler in Hakone to make this box again about 20 years ago.
The Hexagon box has five movable sides (Aruki) and does not have a slide key (Kannuki). This is a box that increases the number of "steps" just by moving the panels (Aruki). In that respect, it is similar to the 4 steps himitsu-bako. In other words, the 4 steps box has 3 moving panels and a 4 steps mechanism, while the Hexagon has 5 moving panels and a 6 steps mechanism. They increase in number one by one. In each box, the "one special panel" moves twice, increasing the number of moves.
The Hexagon box has fewer steps (6 steps), but it takes more work to make because it has more sides. A normal square box has six sides, but this one has eight. Each of the 8 surfaces must be processed, so the number of processes increases. Naturally, the number of yosegi panels used is also increased. In other words, while a normal square box has 6 panels (2 panels on the top and bottom, 4 side panels), a hexagonal box has 8 panels (2 panels on the top and bottom, 6 side panels). To be continued...
The Hexagon box has five movable sides (Aruki) and does not have a slide key (Kannuki). This is a box that increases the number of "steps" just by moving the panels (Aruki). In that respect, it is similar to the 4 steps himitsu-bako. In other words, the 4 steps box has 3 moving panels and a 4 steps mechanism, while the Hexagon has 5 moving panels and a 6 steps mechanism. They increase in number one by one. In each box, the "one special panel" moves twice, increasing the number of moves.
The Hexagon box has fewer steps (6 steps), but it takes more work to make because it has more sides. A normal square box has six sides, but this one has eight. Each of the 8 surfaces must be processed, so the number of processes increases. Naturally, the number of yosegi panels used is also increased. In other words, while a normal square box has 6 panels (2 panels on the top and bottom, 4 side panels), a hexagonal box has 8 panels (2 panels on the top and bottom, 6 side panels). To be continued...
