Japanese walnut is a favorite treat for squirrels, with its hard nuts providing a delightful food source. Most of the nuts are eaten on the spot, but some are forgotten and hidden underground, allowing them to sprout in the coming spring. These walnuts have a thicker and harder shell than the more commonly known varieties. Due to their toughness, the shells are crushed and used in studless tires as anti-slip materials. The nuts contained in the cube are in a state where the shell has been cracked and the cotyledons removed.

Shiro Kuramata once said, “Enchantment should also be considered as function.” 

This reflects humanity’s long fascination with time, stretching back to the discovery of ancient ambers preserving million-year-old life. Our desire to freeze moments in time may stem from a deeper curiosity about our existence or the wish to capture fleeting beauty.

Sola Cubes, crafted by Usage No Nedoko in Kyoto, embody this philosophy. These cubes combine traditional Japanese values of reverence for nature and appreciation of overlooked elements. Encased in hand-polished crystal clear acrylic resin, each cube holds a preserved leaf, seed, or flower, offering a meditative glimpse into nature’s beauty—similar to Kuramata’s “Miss Blanche,” but using real organic materials.

• Acrylic resin may turn yellow over time due to ultraviolet rays so please avoid placing it under direct sunlight.
• Sola cubes are handmade by craftsman one by one. The size, colours and shape of the subject have distinct differences as would with nature.
• Avoid using or placing under high temperatures.

Material(s):

• Acrylic Resin
• Dried Plants

Source:
Kyoto

Dimensions:
W4 x D4 x H4 cm