Tetera kyusu japonesa vintage de cobre martillado tsuiki, con asa envuelta en tejido y caja de madera inscrita

Thousands of small hammer marks form the skin of this vintage copper kyusu, and decades of patina have turned it charcoal, smoky bronze and blue-black, with flashes of turquoise-green when the light moves. Its wooden box, brushed with the words for copper, hammered work and teapot, records its identity directly.

The Piece

This vintage Japanese hammered copper kyusu turns an everyday tea vessel into a quietly sculptural object. Its broad, low, almost flattened-spherical body has been worked with an extraordinarily dense field of individual hammer impressions, a surface that catches light like reptile scales, hammered stone, cracked earth or overlapping cells. From a distance the body appears smooth and dark; up close an entire topography emerges, the craftsman's tool still visible in the finished piece.

The work belongs to tsuiki doki (鎚起銅器), the tradition of forming and finishing copper vessels through repeated controlled hammering, in which a plain sheet or body of copper gradually acquires volume, curvature and surface character. Here the small, closely arranged tsuchime facets follow the rounded profile naturally, stretching horizontally at the widest point and compressing toward the lid: orderly without becoming repetitive, controlled in silhouette yet handmade in every detail.

Decades of oxidation and handling have produced a complex dark patina of charcoal, smoky brown, deep gunmetal, muted copper and blue-black, with hints of green and violet and, under strong directional light, a subtle iridescence. The copper remains visually active beneath it, so the teapot looks nearly black under soft room light, warmer in daylight, and blue-green under directional light.

A tall arching metal handle rises from pivot mounts above the compact body; only the upper grip is wrapped, in a pale natural fiber that appears to be cane, rattan or similar, tightly wound in horizontal bands and aged to a gentle ivory. The fitted copper lid sits low within the shoulder, with a small rounded knob darkened to the color of the body and a tiny vent; the short rising spout is integrated into the body, its mouth gently shaped rather than perfectly circular. Every element answers a practical need, and together they form a satisfying triangle of movement around a calm central mass.

The accompanying wooden presentation and storage box bears brush-written calligraphy, 銅製 鎚起 急須, essentially "copper, hammered work, kyusu teapot", confirming the material and technique visible in the vessel. Japanese craft objects have long been kept in dedicated wooden boxes as part of a culture of preservation, and this box belongs to the teapot's documentary life and should remain with it. Black-brown metal, blond wood and ivory fiber together form an understated palette that sits as easily beside sencha cups, a bamboo tray or iron kettles as in a minimalist, Japandi or wabi-sabi interior.

Details

• Object: Kyusu (teapot)
• Era: Vintage
• Origin: Japan
• Material: Hand-hammered copper; metal handle with natural-fiber (cane, rattan or similar) wrapped grip; pale metallic interior surface
• Technique: Tsuiki doki (hammer-raised copperware) with tsuchime surface
• Color: Dark multi-tone patina: charcoal, smoky brown, gunmetal, blue-black, hints of green
• Included: Wooden storage box (kiribako) with brush-written inscription 銅製 鎚起 急須

Condition

• Substantial aged patina across the exterior, with brown, charcoal, blue-green and darker oxidized areas consistent with vintage copper; the hammered surface remains clearly defined.
• Handle, pivot mounts, lid, knob and spout are present, as shown in the photographs.
• The natural-fiber handle wrapping appears intact overall, with age-related tonal variation and minor irregularity.
• The interior shows normal signs of age and use, including light marks and surface variation; it presents a pale metallic surface whose lining material cannot be confirmed from photographs and has not been laboratory tested.
• The original wooden box shows light age toning and small signs of handling consistent with storage.
• Please examine all photographs carefully; they form an important part of this condition description.

Care and Display

Aggressive polishing may permanently remove the mature patina that contributes significantly to the piece's appearance; retaining it is the most conservative approach. For display, remove loose dust with a dry, soft cloth and avoid abrasive polishes, metal cleaners, acids or chemical treatments unless a brighter copper surface is specifically wanted. Avoid soaking the wrapped handle, and keep the wooden box dry, away from prolonged moisture and direct sunlight.

Because the exact composition and condition of the interior surface have not been scientifically tested, the vessel should be independently inspected and cleaned before any use for beverages. Displayed with the box slightly behind and offset to one side, the arch of the handle stays clear, and a small spotlight or indirect daylight brings the hammered body alive.

Authenticity & Care

The brush-written box inscription 銅製 鎚起 急須 identifies the object as a hammered copper kyusu; no artisan name is identified. 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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