20th Century Oigen Nanbu Seieido Nambu Cast-Iron Pine and Crane Tetsubin

Details

Description

A twentieth-century Japanese Nambu cast-iron tetsubin manufactured by Oigen Chuzo Co., Ltd. of Iwate Prefecture and bearing the firm's historic … Read more A twentieth-century Japanese Nambu cast-iron tetsubin manufactured by Oigen Chuzo Co., Ltd. of Iwate Prefecture and bearing the firm's historic Nanbu Seieido / 南部盛栄堂 house mark. The kettle retains its original labels together with the cast maker's mark, providing unusually strong identification and production evidence.

The body is cast with a heavily textured surface incorporating traditional pine imagery and crane roundels, while the fitted cast-iron lid is surmounted by a pinecone-form finial. A fixed overhead metal handle completes the functional tetsubin form. The decorative programme combines traditional Japanese motifs with the substantial moulded construction associated with Nambu ironware.

The interior is unenameled and remains exceptionally clean, supporting classification as a tetsubin intended for heating water rather than an enamel-lined iron kyūsu. The interior appears unused, and the survival of the original paper labels further indicates very limited handling.

The cast 南部盛栄堂 / Nanbu Seieido mark is Oigen's historic house mark, used on traditional Nambu ironware production during the twentieth century. The piece belongs to the Showa-period output of the Mizusawa/Oshu ironworking region rather than an individually signed studio-master kettle.

Measurements: 8.25 in H × 8 in W × 7.5 in L

Weight: 3 lb

Style: Asian, Japanese, Chinoiserie

Origin: Iwate Prefecture, Japan

Age: 20th Century / Showa Period See less