This teapot begins as a single sheet of copper, raised by hand over iron anvils called toriguchi and repeatedly heated and cooled so the metal can be worked into a rounded form. The body is then covered with a matte texture, struck with a very small textured hammer head, and the fine pattern shows up when you look closely at the surface. Tin is baked onto the copper to turn it silver. A master engraver then carves the sakura blossoms through the silver, exposing the raw pink copper underneath, whose tone matches the pink of cherry blossoms. The pink copper will deepen gradually with use. Because every blossom is cut by hand, no two pots are alike. Each piece carries the hand stamp of every artisan who worked on it, usually two. These Sakura pieces carry three, found under the spout. It includes a removable pure copper fine mesh strainer.
Studio:
Gyokusendo
Origin:
Made in Niigata, Japan
Notes:
Sold in a branded white box and cotton wrapping cloth. Made with the highest grade materials tested for heavy metals and strictly conforms to all food-safe use standards. Do not polish with chemicals, as the patina will be removed, and it is not dishwasher safe.
Size:
15x9x15cm
Capacity:
500ml
