Wood moves. That is not a flaw; it is the material's nature. A cedar panel or a hinoki sculpture will expand slightly in humid summer air and contract in dry winter heating. If the work is well made and the conditions are reasonable, this movement is harmless. If the conditions are extreme, or if the work is fixed too rigidly to a wall, the movement can cause cracking. Most of the care questions we get from collectors come down to a few specific situations that are easy to avoid once you know about them.

Humidity: the main variable

The ideal relative humidity for wood and lacquer works is between 45 and 60 percent. In Japan, this is easy to maintain in summer but can be difficult in winter when heating systems dry the air significantly. A basic hygrometer, available for a few hundred yen at any hardware shop, will tell you what the humidity is in the room where the work is hanging. If it drops below 40 percent regularly, a small humidifier near the work will help. Do not place the humidifier so close that it directs moisture directly at the work.

Light and UV

Direct sunlight is the fastest way to damage a wood or lacquer work. UV radiation fades pigments and can cause the surface of urushi lacquer to become chalky and eventually crack. North-facing walls are ideal for hanging works. If the work is in a south or west-facing room, use UV-filtering window film or hang the work away from the direct path of the sun. LED lighting is preferable to halogen for gallery-style track lighting at home, as it produces less UV and less heat.

Hanging and fixing

Large wood panel works should be hung with two fixing points rather than one, to distribute the weight and reduce torque on the panel. Use fixings that allow a small amount of lateral movement rather than fixing the panel rigidly at both points. This allows the panel to expand and contract without building up stress. The paulownia wood boxes that Cedar Blend Line works are sold in are the right storage solution if you ever need to store the work flat. Keep the box horizontal and away from exterior walls.

Cleaning

Dust wood surfaces with a soft dry cloth, moving with the grain. Do not use water or cleaning products on raw or oiled wood surfaces. Urushi lacquer can be wiped with a very slightly damp cloth if necessary, but dry it immediately. The surface of a well-cured urushi work is quite hard and resistant to light contact, but it can be scratched by abrasive materials. If a work is damaged, contact the gallery before attempting any repair. Some urushi artists offer restoration services for their own work.

If you have a specific question about a work you have purchased from Cedar Blend Line, email hello@cedarblendline.com. We keep records of every work we have sold and can usually put you in touch with the artist directly if the question is technical.