An Iron Chagama Crafted by Living National Treasure Takahashi Keiten
- Artist:
- Takahashi Keiten
- Era:
- Contemporary
- Price:
- SOLD
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- Contact gallery
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Chagama are traditional Japanese iron kettles used in tea ceremony (chanoyu) for boiling water. Their design tends to reflect the aesthetic principles of wabi-sabi, emphasizing simplicity, rustic beauty, and harmony with nature. Here we have an excellent example, crafted by one of the most talented artisans of the 20th century.The style is known as a “Fuji” kettle as the shape is reminiscent of Mt Fuji. Meanwhile the theme is known as “Hamamatsu” as the landscape is fashioned after an idyllic seaside village on the southern coast of Japan. With a minimalistic landscape of manicured pine boughs swaying next to a placid sea; an idyllic scene to be sure, captured in perpetuity in iron by none other than master iron smith Takahashi Keiten.
A native of Yamagata prefecture,Takahashi (1920 - 2009) is recognized as a Living National Treasure in metalworking, specifically, for crafting chanoyu-gama kettles like the one seen here. Shortly after taking up the study of metalworking under Nagano Tetsushi in 1950 he started exhibiting and entering his pieces in competition and in 1963 he was recognized as an upcoming talent in the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibit. Takahashi also has the distinction of presenting his pieces to both the Showa and Heisei Emperors on the occasion of their visits to Yamagata.
In fine condition, this iron chagama is 6.3 inches in diameter (16cm) and stands 7 inches tall (17.5cm). It comes in a sealed and signed wood box (tomobako), and includes an informational insert detailing the artist and workshop. A note about handling - pieces like this tend to pick up fingerprints easily when handling. If you find this has happened heating it on a stove or in an oven will remove them perfectly. *** Fully insured international shipping included in the price.
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