Japanese Tetsubin with Landscape

Decorated with an irregular, textured surface and an elegant, arched handle, this Japanese teapot was used to boil water for traditional tea ceremonies. Known as tetsubin, the kettle’s cast-iron construction is said to change the quality of the water, making tea taste mellow and sweet. Made by pouring iron into clay or sand molds, the six-sided kettle is cast in low relief with a serene landscape scene. The lid is signed by the artisan who crafted the kettle during Japan's Meiji period, an era when artisans began introducing elements of modern Western design into traditional forms.