Tetsubin japonés de hierro fundido con tapa de cobre y caja de madera tomobako, sometido a prueba de fugas, 23 cm

A classic rounded tetsubin completed by a copper lid and a fitted wooden storage box, the kettle survives as a whole tea implement rather than a decorative fragment. Its patina and visible oxidation record long handling; its value rests on form, casting, completeness and honest age.

The Piece

This Japanese cast-iron tea kettle (tetsubin) is offered with a copper lid and a wooden storage box (tomobako). The silhouette follows a classic rounded body with a raised neck and a tall handle, a form associated with traditional kettle-making for tea practice and daily hot-water use.

The copper lid is an important functional and aesthetic component, offering a warmer contrast against the iron body and confirming the object as a complete tea implement. The fitted wooden box supports careful keeping and suggests the kettle circulated as a preserved utensil.

Iron kettles naturally develop tonal variation over time, and here the age-related patina and visible oxidation should be read as material history rather than flaw, provided the vessel remains structurally stable. The piece is for collectors who value ironware as lived material culture, weight, patina and completeness over pristine cosmetics, and it suits tea-oriented interiors, study collections of Japanese craft and anyone seeking an authentic tetsubin with visible age and presence.

Details

• Origin: Japan
• Material: Cast iron; copper lid
• Measurements: H 23 cm (incl. handle) × body Ø 18 cm × mouth Ø 7.6 cm
• Weight: Body 1,694 g
• Included: Wooden storage box (tomobako)
• HS code: 7323.93

Condition

• Fair overall, with surface wear, rust, patina and oxidation present; the kettle remains visually coherent and suitable for collection, study or display.
• Leak-tested with water.
• Interior condition, lining status and the full extent of pitting cannot be verified from photographs alone; approach it conservatively as collectible ironware that may need customary inspection and care before practical use.

Authenticity & Care

Maker or school attribution appears in the accompanying documentation but should be treated as provisional without independent authentication; period and maker are approximate, based on that documentation and visual assessment. Every piece is examined and documented in Japan before dispatch and is offered with the Japonista authenticity guarantee.

Delivery from Japan

Packed by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Returns follow our published policy.

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