Phoenix Wabori Carved Art Panel

Wada Chokin Kobo is a workshop in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, devoted to chokin — the art of engraving pictures into metal with a tagane chisel and a hammer. Shunsuke Wada, the fourth-generation craftsman, carries on the technique.

The motif engraved here is the hoo, or phoenix. Believed to be a herald of auspicious events, this bird has long appeared in kimono and ceramic patterns, and even on Japanese banknotes. It is a symbol of harmony, tranquility, prosperity, and success. Said to throw itself into the flames at the end of its life only to rise again, the immortal bird also stands for rebirth and hope.

The brass plate that forms the base is a traditional craft of Takaoka, blackened by an artisan through oxidation coloring. Into this black surface, the phoenix was engraved by driving in the tagane. The way the deeply cut lines catch the light and gleam is something only hand engraving can achieve.

So that you can fully enjoy the character of each engraved stroke, the piece is not framed behind acrylic or glass. It is an art panel ready to hang on your wall just as it is.

Because each piece is engraved by hand, the character of the lines and the tone of the black vary slightly from one to the next. Enjoy the shifting shadows as the light changes, and the way the brass deepens in richness over time.