Fer de fer / prune, or et argent / forme ronde plate

Each casting is handmade by skilled craftsmen.
This lovely craft is decorated with a plum design.

Plum blossoms in spring are known as a good-luck charm in Japan. The plum tree, which overcomes the harsh cold of winter, is the first to bloom and put on many flowers, symbolizing perseverance, vitality, and the prosperity of one's descendants.
It has also been used in many kimono designs as an embodiment of the sensitivity of the Japanese people to the changing seasons, and has been loved as a flower of good omen.

It features a clean form with a thin fabric and a beautiful sand grain cast surface, and is highly regarded visually and functionally for its good heat conductivity. The simple, lean design has a universal beauty that is at home at any dining table, while inheriting the spirit of the tea ceremony. Inheriting the items used by grandparents and parents and using them for a long time will bring memories of those who have used them. One of the characteristics of cast metal is that because it is long-lasting, you can cherish things and enjoy their background.

It is recommended not only for daily use but also for interior decoration.
Water boiled in an iron kettle has a mild taste and is very tasty, and you can also consume iron with a high absorption rate.
We hope you will use it to build a healthy body.

Width：19cm
Depth：16cm
Height：22cm
Weight：1,703g

Iron

STUDIO ARAI

"A traditional craft that is different from mass-produced products"

While each part of a casting is made by a division of labor, our workshop adopts an integrated manufacturing process that makes everything. We make everything from the materials to the design to create a work of art that we are satisfied with. This approach is very rare, and we produce casting every day with the desire to keep traditional crafts alive.

ARTISAN STORY

Mikio Arai / Arai Koubou
They have started business in 1972. The business began with the casting of machine parts by the previous generation and the production of crafts by his wife, Fumiko Arai, and has continued to the present day with a focus on handmade small-lot production. In the Heisei Era (1990s), members of the royal family visited the workshop privately and created bronze works. The quality of our work is one of the best in Japan, and we have delivered several pieces to the Imperial Household as gifts.

ACHIEVEMENTS

・Received the International Prize for Culture and the Arts
・Multiple deliveries of imperial gifts

YAMAGATA IMONO / YAMAGATA CAST METALWARE

About 950 years ago / 1000s / Heian Period

Yamagata casting is traditionally traced back roughly nine to ten centuries, when metalworkers traveling with the forces of Minamoto no Yoriyoshi discovered that sand and earth around the Mamigasaki River were ideal for molds and settled in the area. In the early Edo period, Mogami Yoshiaki concentrated foundries in the district now known as Domachi.

In Japan, Yamagata casting is known for thin walls and refined surfaces on kettles, tea-ceremony cauldrons, vases and temple bells. The same region also produces industrial castings, so traditional craft and modern manufacturing exist literally side by side.

The mold itself is made from sand rather than metal. Fine sand is compacted and patterned with tools before molten metal above 1,000°C is poured in. Because the mold must be broken to remove the finished object, the carefully prepared negative form is normally used only once.

Individual Differences

As each piece is individually handcrafted, slight variations in color, pattern, shape, and texture may occur. These subtle differences are a natural characteristic of handcrafted works, making each piece truly unique. We hope you will enjoy these individual variations as part of the beauty and character of Japanese craftsmanship.

Production Time

If an item is not currently in stock, it may be made to order by the artisan. As each piece is carefully handcrafted, production may take several months depending on the item and the artisan's schedule. We appreciate your patience and understanding.