#J283546 - 12cm Floor Board - Kaya - Paulownia Lid - Kiura Itame - Free FedEx Shipping

This sturdy goban came to Baduk Club from an antique dealer in Tokyo, Japan.

The board is 12cm thick, and has the usual candy color that Kaya wood takes on with age. It comes with a protective paulownia lid. It stands about 24cm tall with legs on.

It looks like a textbook species of Kaya, with a warm heartwood that is even in color throughout. A plain-sawn board like this produces beautiful end-grain where both players will sit, showing off the growth rings of the tree.

The legs are close to the same color as the board, so they are likely Kaya as well, but could be Katsura. Visit my  Care Instructions   to learn more about cleaning and caring for floor boards.

Kaya boards are cured for 10 years before they are made, which ensures that the wood has finished changing shape. One of the big benefits of a vintage board like this is that it has had additional time to continue aging, this means the wood is more stable than ever. A hairline crack appears on one face, but should not be worried about, these form where pith rays existed within the trunk of the tree.

The wood is soft so it provides a nice resonance when playing slate and shell stones (in contrast to the sharp sound that comes from hard materials like glass and bamboo).

The corners and edges are all quite good, thanks to the protective lid. There may be gentle pitting on the surface, as stones hitting the playing area with heavy force can leave marks. The lid may need to be re-glued. Please see the photos for details of the specific condition. 

Please understand that this is a Vintage item. Because of the state of the board and lid it is sold at a discount.

Shipping Details: 
FedEx International Priority shipping from Japan is already included in the cost. Please allow a week for packing and Customs preparations, then we will email you the tracking number so that you can sign up for shipping notifications.