Iron Kettle Santama

Metalwork

Craft Company: Kamasada

ORIGIN: Morioka, Iwate Prefecture
SIZE: W185 × D160 × H110 mm (H180 mm to the handle)
MATERIAL: Iron

An unwavering presence

Nanbu ironware (Nanbu tekki in Japanese) was first developed in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture during the Edo period (1603 – 1868). These iron kettles, favored by feudal lords who enjoyed the tea ceremony, gained a reputation for delivering boiled water with a mellow taste, and are now known throughout the world.

The lustrous black cast surface, designed in the shape of an abacus ball, is created by pouring molten iron into an elaborately made mold. The iron kettle is fired with charcoal and then burnished with lacquer to finish, which prevents it from rusting. The everlasting beauty stemming from the wisdom and skills of our ancestors has been further refined through the dedication of modern craftsmen, and will continue to be passed on for generations to come.

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Sogata (Mold)
- Technique
A pattern is carved directly on the inside of a mold made of sand and clay, forming the outline of the object to be produced, and fired to make the outer mold. Molten metal is then poured into the gap between the outer mold and the inner core to cast the object. This method is mainly used in the production of circular objects, such as pots and Buddhist bells.
Kanakedome (Yakinuki, Kamayaki)
- Technique
Ironware removed from the mold is fired in charcoal at a high temperature of approximately 900°C, forming an oxide film on the surface to prevent rust. This is a traditional technique unique to Nanbu ironware.
Nanbu tekki (Nanbu ironware)
- Generic term
A generic name for ironware made in the Mizusawa and Morioka regions in Iwate Prefecture. Blessed with high-quality raw materials such as iron sand, sand, and charcoal, it was developed under the patronage of the Date clan of the Sendai domain and the Nanbu clan of the Morioka domain, respectively, in the Edo period (1603 – 1868). In Mizusawa, iron pots and kettles were mainly produced, growing out of a samurai armory in the old days. In Morioka, the lord of the Morioka domain, who favored the tea ceremony, invited an artisan from Kyoto who specialized in making kettles for the tea ceremony, which led to the production of iron kettles.
Chukin (Metal casting)
- Generic term
- Technique
A technique to make metalworks by pouring molten metal into a mold, or igata in Japanese and extracting it after it is cooled. The technique makes it possible to form metal freely, which otherwise is a difficult material to process. A product made by this casting method is called imono. This method also allows for mass production. Once the mold of a prototype is made it is then possible to make multiples of the product.

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