Karmi Tawara Chazutsu — Cherry Birch Tea Canister
Karmi takes its name from karumi (軽み), a haiku concept meaning "lightness." A chazutsu is a Japanese tea canister, and Tawara is the bale-shaped one in this series, low and rounded, made by Gato Mikio in Yamanaka, Ishikawa. The workshop has been turning wood there since 1908.
- Mizume, Japanese cherry birch. Dense and hard, so it holds a fine cut without tearing.
- 千筋, a thousand lines. Cut freehand on the lathe, spaced by eye.
- 縦木取り construction. Wood cut along the tree's growth direction, harder and more stable than the usual method.
- Fitted inner lid. Slows air and moisture, keeps tea fresh.
- Holds up to 50g of loose leaf tea or matcha powder.
- φ7.8 cm × H 11.0 cm (3.1″ × 4.3″).
- Three finishes. Soji (naked), Fuki (butterbur), Sumi (black).
The surface is covered in 千筋, a thousand lines, cut by hand while the wood turns on a lathe. The spacing is judged by eye. If one groove went deeper than the rest, the finish would pool there and show it, so an even surface is the whole test of the work. It's one of around forty patterns in the Yamanaka repertoire, and the turners forge their own blades to cut them. 加飾挽き, the decorative turning behind these patterns, is a specialization few makers still hold.
The blank is cut from the log the same way the tree grew, standing upright. That's Yamanaka's method, and it leaves the wood harder than it would otherwise be. Hard wood is slow to carve and it's the only kind that holds a line this fine. It's also why the lid will still fit years from now.
Inside is a fitted inner lid that sits against the walls of the canister, slowing the air and moisture that stale tea. The wood is dried and conditioned over several months before that lid is fitted, which is why it closes smoothly instead of sticking.
All those ridges have a second job. The canister doesn't slip out of a wet hand.
Finishes
- Soji (naked). The wood as-is, showing the grain and warm tone.
- Fuki (butterbur). A soft brown named for the wild plant.
- Sumi (black). A deep matte black, from the color of sumi ink.
Made for tea, matcha, or coffee beans, in a form the maker has been refining for over a hundred years.
- Dimensions
- Materials
- Care Guide
Complete the look:
