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Yama uma (?) umahada (?) tetsu kyusu

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Japanese Metalwork64 of 137Iwachu Showa Era umahada tetsubinOitomi Umahada tetsubin
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    Posted 3 years ago

    kwqd
    (1119 items)

    This uma yama (mountain horse) tetsu kyusu is 4" diameter x 3.75" high, minus spout and handle and weighs 1.5 lbs. It is marked to the right of the spout when facing the spout side of the pot. This tetsu kyusu has a mountain range on one side and a horse on the other side. As rhineisfine astutely pointed out, horses on Japanese tetusibin and tetsu kyusu are stylized and resemble those on Soma Ware pottery. This is true for the few examples that I have, anyway.

    This is another souvenir tetsu kyusu, what I call paperweight pots, never used, probably bought as a souvenir on a trip to Japan or in some West Coast import shop in the second half of the 20th century. The latter is probably more likely due to the "Made in Japan" label under the lid.

    Calling this style of pot yama uma (mountain horse) is my interpretation. There may be a real Japanese name for this style of pot, but I don't know what it is. The seller of this pot called it a Mt. Fuji design but I think is it a range of mountains, not Mt. Fuji which is a dormant volcano. The range is probably either the Hida, Kiso or Akaishi. This pot might possibly commemorate "Sarasara-goe" in 1584 in which a Samurai force crossed supposedly impassible mountain passes in the winter.

    I do not know the maker and name of the design of this tetsu kyusu. It's a mystery!

    Unsolved Mystery

    Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.

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    Comments

    1. rhineisfine rhineisfine, 3 years ago
      Lovely tetsu kyusu!
      Your seller was probably referring to the shape of the kettle as "Mt. Fuji design", rather than the design on the side. In tea ceremony, a fujigama (Fuji kettle) tapers towards the top. You can see examples here: https://tinyurl.com/8ey87zxy
      It's a graceful shape and really attractive. I love it.
    2. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Nope! The seller said it had "Mt Fuji artwork on one side" and "marks next to the Mt. Fuji". They also described it as an antique when it probably is not old enough to be vintage. Seller pretty clueless. Thanks for the link!

      Thanks for loving my new kyusu dav2no1, aura, Thomas, rhinestone and jscott0363!
    3. rhineisfine rhineisfine, 3 years ago
      Ha ha, well, sometimes sellers do get a bit fanciful in their descriptions of Japanese items, where every mountain is Fuji, every woman in traditional dress is a "geisha", and every item that can be even vaguely construed as tea-related is by definition for "tea ceremony". Nonetheless, this is still an awesome pot, and the mystery only adds to the interest!
    4. racer4four racer4four, 3 years ago
      It is a beauty Kevin.
    5. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Agree, rhineisfine! The seller has a few nice things in their items for sale, but the descriptions are way off on many of their items. The description for this kyusu also says it is for use on the stove. Glad no one tried that!

      Thanks, Karen! I love finding these old, unused kyusu and tetsubins.

      Thanks, Kevin!
    6. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Thanks Vynil33rpm, Jenni and fortapache!
    7. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Thanks for checking out my latest kyusu, PhilDMorris!
    8. kwqd kwqd, 2 years ago
      Thank you vcal!

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