Japanese Testsubin-style Silver Tea Pot

The form of this silver teapot is based on a traditional Japanese cast iron tetsubin pot used for boiling water over charcoals for tea making.

Importantly, it retains its original woven cane bindings over the handle. This has been woven with a pleasing cross-hatch pattern.

The sides have been cast all over with neat rows of spikes.  The lid fits in the well and its outside is finely tooled. The finial has been cast as whirl. The short, ‘S’-shaped spout is plain and unadorned.

The base is slightly concave and marked in Japanese script with the words for ‘Pure Silver’.

Such a tea pot was among the implements used for the green tea ceremony.

The tea pot is in excellent condition.