This fabulous goban set came to BadukClub from an antique dealer in Aichi, Japan.
The board and bowls both feature black and gold lacquer. The lacquer is built in layers to create a 3-D relief, which is a high-level lacquerwork technique. The patterns and art speak for themselves, so please rely on the photos.
Because of the lacquer, we cannot see the endgrain of the wood. It is most likely a Plain-sawn cut (Kiomote), because the wood visible in the playing grid features multiple 'flame' patterns. Additionally, boards selected for lacquerwork in the first place are often boards that have a visual defect like a knot, making them ideal candidates for such cover-ups.
If the buyers intent is to use it as a display or museum piece, no refurbishing will be necessary. However, I would suggest either filling the crack on the underside of the board with beeswax or applying 'bowties' to prevent further separation. A crack in one bowl could also be reglued.
Some slate and clamshell stones are included. They may be original to this set, but we cannot be sure. The stones were not counted or measured, and should be considered a bonus.
Shipping Details:
FedEx International Priority shipping from Japan is already included, there will not be any additional fee at Checkout. This service reduces the actual transit time to 5 business days, and provides more room for padding in order to avoid shipping damage. Please allow a week for Customs preparations, then we will email you the tracking notifications.
