A vintage sand-iron kyusu (急須) by Kiyosue (清末) at the Shōkōdō house in Morioka, Iwate — Japan's four-century heritage center for cast-iron tea ware. Sold complete with signed paulownia tomobako, original Nambu Tekki Cooperative authenticity sticker, brass strainer, and the maker's printed leaflet.
What this is
A small Nambu satetsu (砂鉄, sand iron) kyusu — the design name from the maker is "Manōsakukyūro" (萬桜咲久露), "myriad cherry blossoms with morning dew". The upper half of the body is covered in deeply-cast cherry and plum blossom relief, the lower half left in a hammered Nambu ground. The lid carries matching blossom relief with a bud-shaped finial. The handle is twist-bound iron with a central knot at the apex.
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Form: kyusu (小型急須 / small Japanese teapot for personal use)
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Material: satetsu (砂鉄) — sand iron, the premium Nambu grade
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Design: Manōsakukyūro 萬桜咲久露 (multi-layer plum/cherry blossom)
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Era: Showa post-war (estimated 1965–1980)
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Made by 合名会社 照亦製作所 (Shōeki Seisakujo) under the 照光堂 (Shōkōdō) brand in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, curated by ZenKiln
About Nambu Tekki
Nambu Tekki (南部鉄器) is the traditional cast iron ware of Morioka (盛岡), in northern Japan's Iwate Prefecture. The craft has been continuously practiced for more than four hundred years, with iron sand from the local mountains historically used as the raw material. Nambu pieces are recognized for their characteristic granular surface texture, slow heat retention, and the way the surface develops a soft patina with regular use.
The cooperative sticker on this piece — 「南部鉄器協同組合 / 本場盛岡」 — certifies it as an authentic Morioka product, made by a workshop in the recognized regional cooperative.
About satetsu (砂鉄)
The kettle is made of satetsu — literally "sand iron" — the premium grade of Nambu material gathered from the magnetite-rich black sand deposits of the Kitakami highlands. Compared with ordinary cast iron, satetsu pieces are lighter for the same size, have a denser grain, and are prized by serious tea practitioners. The maker's leaflet specifically identifies this piece as a 「南部砂鉄急須」.
About the maker
The piece is signed by the maker on the wooden box: brush calligraphy 「清末作」 (made by Kiyosue) with a matching red seal 「清末」. Kiyosue worked at 合名会社 照亦製作所 (Shōeki Seisakujo Limited Partnership), the workshop under the heritage brand 照光堂 (Shōkōdō) in Morioka. The printed leaflet inside the box is published by the workshop itself.
Dimensions (this exact piece, measured)
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Total height with handle raised: 12.5 cm (4.9")
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Body height with handle folded down: 6.0 cm (2.4")
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Body maximum width: 9.0 cm (3.5")
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Mouth diameter (lid opening): 7.0 cm (2.8")
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Foot diameter: 5.0 cm (2.0")
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Weight (kettle only): 500 g (17.6 oz / 1.1 lb)
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Weight with paulownia box: 700 g (24.7 oz / 1.5 lb)
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Tomobako: 14.5 × 14.5 × 11 cm (5.7" × 5.7" × 4.3")
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Brewing capacity: approximately 180–220 mL when filled to brim (sized for personal use or premium-tea ritual)
What you receive
- 1 × Nambu satetsu kyusu (the iron kettle with lid)
- 1 × brass tea strainer (perforated, with brass-gold finish — sits inside the kettle to filter loose tea leaves)
- 1 × signed paulownia tomobako (kiribako) with brush calligraphy + red seal on the inside lid
- 1 × original 「南部砂鉄急須の栞」 printed leaflet (the maker's product information, Japanese)
- 1 × 「南部鉄器協同組合 / 本場盛岡」 authenticity sticker
- ZenKiln care card (English care instructions)
How to use / who it's for
- Brewing high-grade green teas (gyokuro, sencha, hojicha) where small yield + slow heat retention bring out depth in the leaves
- Tea ceremony or tea-table accent piece — collectors of Nambu tekki particularly value pre-1980 satetsu work
- A father's day, retirement, or anniversary gift for someone with an interest in Japanese craft history or tea culture
Condition
Excellent vintage condition. The blossom relief is crisp, the hammered ground below is unworn, and the brass-coated interior and strainer are clean. The exterior shows the soft natural patina of cared-for satetsu — this is a feature of the material, not a flaw. The tomobako shows normal age-softening at corners; the seal and brush signature are clean and legible.
Care
- Never put in dishwasher, microwave, or oven.
- After each use, empty the kettle, rinse with hot water (not soap), and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.
- Avoid leaving water inside for extended periods — moisture is the main cause of iron rust.
- If a thin patina or light surface tarnish develops, the maker's leaflet recommends gentle polishing with charcoal powder once a week for the natural silver-grey luster characteristic of satetsu.
- If you find any cracks or damage, discontinue use immediately for safety.
About ZenKiln
A Japan-based curator connecting international collectors with Japan's artisan ceramic and metalwork tradition. We work closely with the kilns, workshops, and makers featured in our shop — each one disclosed in our About section — and hand-pack every piece in Japan for safe delivery worldwide.
Reference conversions
- 12.5 cm = 4.9" · 9.0 cm = 3.5"
- 7.0 cm = 2.8" · 5.0 cm = 2.0"
- 500 g ≈ 1.1 lb · 700 g ≈ 1.5 lb
- 200 mL ≈ 6.8 fl oz
Shipping
Ships from Japan within 1–3 business days, hand-packed inside the original signed tomobako with exterior cushioning for international transit. International tracking included. Buyers outside Japan are responsible for any local customs duties.
