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Antique Japanese Iron Tetsubin Dragon Mountain Tea Kettle — Sculptural Cast Iron Chagama, Meiji–Taisho Era Tea Ceremony Vessel

Antique Japanese Iron Tetsubin Dragon Mountain Tea Kettle — Sculptural Cast Iron Chagama, Meiji–Taisho Era Tea Ceremony Vessel

$795.00 USD
$795.00 USD
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This sculptural iron tetsubin exemplifies the dramatic naturalism and symbolic depth that emerged in late Meiji to early Taisho-period cast iron tea wares. The body of the kettle is formed as a mountainous landscape, from which a dragon emerges in high relief—an auspicious motif associated with water, rain, wisdom, and spiritual power in East Asian cosmology.

Unlike smooth-bodied chagama, this example belongs to a rarer sculptural lineage, where the kettle itself becomes a narrative object. The dragon winding through rugged terrain evokes the classical image of the mountain dragon guarding sacred waters, an image deeply resonant within the tea ceremony’s philosophical framework of harmony, reverence, purity, and tranquility.

The iron surface displays a mature, darkened patina developed through age and use, with subtle abrasions consistent with decades of handling. The arched handle retains its original forged character, complementing the robust, grounded silhouette of the vessel.

Such kettles were often commissioned in limited numbers, appealing to advanced tea practitioners who valued symbolic intensity and artisanal individuality over uniformity.

OBJECT DETAILS

Object: Iron Tetsubin (Cast Iron Tea Kettle)
Motif: Dragon Emerging from Mountain Landscape
Material: Cast Iron
Era: Meiji–Taisho Period (circa late 19th–early 20th century)
Technique: Sculptural casting with integrated relief

Dimensions:
• Width: approx. 16 cm
• Depth: approx. 15 cm
• Height: approx. 19.5 cm (including handle)

Condition:
• Age-related surface wear and patina
• No major cracks or structural damage observed
• Interior condition consistent with antique iron kettle
• Please review images carefully

CULTURAL & TEA CEREMONY CONTEXT

In Japanese tea culture, the tetsubin is more than a utilitarian vessel—it is a spiritual anchor of the tearoom. Dragon imagery elevates this role further, symbolizing the unseen forces governing water, weather, and transformation.

Mountain-dragon compositions are particularly meaningful, suggesting restraint of power and disciplined strength—qualities revered in both Zen practice and the Way of Tea.

COLLECTOR RELEVANCE

This piece will resonate with:
• Advanced tea practitioners
• Collectors of sculptural tetsubin
• Scholars of Meiji-era applied arts
• Interior designers seeking authentic Japanese wabi-sabi objects

CONFIDENCE & VERIFICATION NOTES

Attributions are based on stylistic analysis, construction methods, and seller‑provided information. Exact workshop or artist identification is not signed and cannot be conclusively confirmed. Dating is approximate within the Meiji period.

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AUTHENTICITY & GUARANTEE

Evaluated under the Japonista Authentication Framework™:

  • Casting analysis and surface-study comparison

  • Motif verification

  • Patina and oxidation aging review

  • Mold-mark consistency checks

  • Handle and lid metallurgy inspection

  • Interior firing and mineral pattern confirmation

Guaranteed 100% Authentic. Covered by the Japonista Lifetime Authenticity Warranty™.

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Curatorial Footer: Tetsubin occupy the boundary between daily use and ritual culture in Japanese tea practice.

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