New Arrival: A Rare Altar, Built with an Abundance of Genuine Ebony

A pre-owned Soka Gakkai altar has just arrived with us: “51 Genuine Ebony, Onagadori” (No. 1407), made in Tokushima by Kongōdō.
It is a zushi-style altar that uses genuine ebony generously throughout. The interior is finished in gold leaf, right into the corners, and the front framing (kamachi) carries thick pieces of solid ebony. It has real weight to it.

Please watch the video first

Genuine ebony is growing scarce, worldwide

We are told that ebony itself, and the craftsmen who can work it, are both becoming fewer across the world. Kongōdō took the rare ebony they had set aside over the years and put it into this traditional altar. A single piece that uses this much genuine ebony — an altar like this may become harder to come by from here on.

Shirata, joined by hand

Look closely at the ebony around the doors and you will see parts with a different tone. This is called shirata — the part of the ebony tree where the grain runs differently. Because only limited lengths and sections of ebony can be used, the pieces are carefully joined together into one altar. The rin stand uses this shirata as well. You can feel the hand of a craftsman who lets nothing of the material go to waste.

About the condition — told to you honestly

It is a pre-owned piece, so we looked for the marks. On the veneer inside the zushi there is one small scuff, which appears to have been made at the time of an earlier delivery. The surface material is a thin sheet of genuine ebony (real ebony, not solid throughout). The carved ranma and the door insets use solid ebony boards as well. Please check the full condition on the product page and in the video together.

Before this altar, your daily daimoku

The materials, and the craftsmen who work them, are both growing fewer in our time. That is exactly why we hope you will treasure the fact of meeting this one piece now. As a place to sit before the Gohonzon and lay down your daimoku, day after day, we would be glad if it served you for many years.