Tatebanko paper diorama

One of the presents Tim gave me for Christmas was a pair of Tatebanko sets. These are paper dioramas inspired by the Japanese art of the same name, apparently popular from the 17th to 20th centuries. The company that makes them can be found here, although he apparently ordered them from a store in Brooklyn, NY.



It's hard to tell in the picture, but there are many layers from the front to the back, giving a 3D effect. They are fun to put together, even though some of the cutting can be slightly tedious. In the packet you receive multiple sheets of paper (poster board strength) that have shapes drawn on them. You cut on specific lines to create the different pieces for your picture. Each piece is numbered, and can then be glued to the matching number on the base. There are side pieces, a back, and a top that all need to be glued on as well. We assembled the first one together, with the result in the above picture. It was a fun craft, and since there are many pieces that need to be cut apart, folded, and glued it was a great one to do as a team. Hopefully we will do the other one soon as well.

This is definitely a craft that anyone with a little patience can enjoy (but a great deal is not require). You only provide your own scissors and school glue. A steady hand is also useful, although my hand was shaking as I glued pieces together and it still turned out fine. The final product is approximately 7" x 5" x 3.5".