ButsudanClick on any of the images to see the photo in larger format, then use the arrow keys to scroll through the other photos at the same scale
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A butsudan is a Buddhist altar cabinet that contains the 'Gohonzon', a scroll that is the focus of a Buddhist devotion. I designed this butsudan to be used in a home that does not have the space for a full alter, and yet to include at least some of the characteristics that a full alter would provide, while occupying only the footprint of the cabinet base.
The butsudan is 28.75" high x 16.8" wide x 10.75" deep. The woods are solid cherry (the darker wood) and spalted maple. The curved pieces in the design are made in a variety of ways. The curves are cut from solid wood for the base, top plate, and top front rail; the two doors are coopered, with three boards for each door; the drawer front is formed by the bent lamination technique, although in this case the laminae were given an initial set bend using the hot-pipe bending technique, and subsequently they were glued together on a form to produce the curved drawer front. The cabinet is finished with shellac and wax.
The bowl and its lid are sealed inside and out with an epoxy coating to make them waterproof, and then polished. The candlesticks and the bobèche were sealed with shellac, and then these, as well as the bowl interior and the bowl lid, were spray painted with acrylic paint.
The drawer is a full-extension drawer with stops to prevent detachment from the cabinet body. The lid on the drawer forms a shelf on which various objects can be placed during a devotion, such as the bowl containing water, fruit, flowers, etc.. The candlesticks screw onto holders for security. The holders pivot from shelves, which in turn slide out from both sides of the drawer. When the candlestick holders are set in the fully extended position, the doors cannot hit the candlesticks. The contents of the drawer includes a candlestick trimmer to trim the base of the candles to fit the holes in the candlesticks.
The butsudan is 28.75" high x 16.8" wide x 10.75" deep. The woods are solid cherry (the darker wood) and spalted maple. The curved pieces in the design are made in a variety of ways. The curves are cut from solid wood for the base, top plate, and top front rail; the two doors are coopered, with three boards for each door; the drawer front is formed by the bent lamination technique, although in this case the laminae were given an initial set bend using the hot-pipe bending technique, and subsequently they were glued together on a form to produce the curved drawer front. The cabinet is finished with shellac and wax.
The bowl and its lid are sealed inside and out with an epoxy coating to make them waterproof, and then polished. The candlesticks and the bobèche were sealed with shellac, and then these, as well as the bowl interior and the bowl lid, were spray painted with acrylic paint.
The drawer is a full-extension drawer with stops to prevent detachment from the cabinet body. The lid on the drawer forms a shelf on which various objects can be placed during a devotion, such as the bowl containing water, fruit, flowers, etc.. The candlesticks screw onto holders for security. The holders pivot from shelves, which in turn slide out from both sides of the drawer. When the candlestick holders are set in the fully extended position, the doors cannot hit the candlesticks. The contents of the drawer includes a candlestick trimmer to trim the base of the candles to fit the holes in the candlesticks.