Wabi-Sabi “ is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection…we learn to embrace liver spots, rust, and frayed edges, and the march of time they represent.”- Robyn Griggs Lawrence, the wabi-sabi house: the Japanese art of imperfect beauty. It is the melding of the Japanese words wabi, meaning humble, and sabi, connoting beauty in the natural progression of time.

These boxes, with their lids of weathered chainsawed wood were created in that spirit. I was presented with an old Madrone stump that had been roughly squared off, and the faces were evocative when I started to resaw the wood to see what I had. The sides still have the cracks and splits from drying out over many years exposed to the weather.

Wabi-Sabi_1 is a bit more refined, with central and end compartments. Side splits were accented with black epoxy. Overall dimensions 9” long x 4.25” wide x 2.375” high. Now in a private collection.

Wabi-Sabi_2 is more rustic, with an unframed lid. Side splits were left open. Overall dimensions 15” long x 4.25” wide x 2.5” high. Cork lined bottom. Sliding lid. Now in a private collection.

Wabi-Sabi_3 is more rustic, with an unframe lid. Side splits are open. Overall dimensions are 7” long x 3.75” wide x 2.25” tall. Cork lined bottom. Sliding lid. $150, plus any applicable taxes and shipping.

Wabi-Sabi_4 is more refined with a framed lid and black-epoxy filled splits. Overall dimensions are 9” long x 4.25” wide x 2.375” high. Sliding lid, cork lined bottom. $175, plus any applicable taxes and shipping.

Each Wabi-Sabi box is unlike any other, and as I only one more weathered Madrone stump, rare.