Karmi Moto 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 Moto is the tall cylindrical one in this series. Its name means "origin," and the form is straight and upright. 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.
- Holds up to 50g of loose leaf tea or matcha powder.
- φ6.2 cm × H 19.3 cm (2.4″ × 7.6″).
- Three finishes. Soji (naked), Fuki (butterbur), Sumi (black).
The tall surface is worked with 千筋, a thousand lines cut by hand as the wood spins on the lathe. Each line is spaced by eye. A single deeper groove would trap lacquer and show the error, so an even surface is what the technique tests. 千筋 is one of about forty patterns named and cut in the Yamanaka tradition, and the turners forge their own blades to work them. 加飾挽き, the decorative turning behind these patterns, is a specialization few workshops still hold.
The wood is blanked from the log along the direction the tree grew, standing upright. That's Yamanaka's 縦木取り, and it leaves the wood harder and more stable than the usual crosscut. The hardness is what allows this many fine lines to be cut into a single surface without tearing. The stability keeps the shape true over time.
The lid is fitted to the canister after the wood has been dried and conditioned over several months. That patient step is what lets the closure sit snugly against the wood rather than sticking or rattling.
The tall, narrow form could slip in a wet hand, but the 千筋 keeps it steady. All those hand-cut lines are earning their keep.
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.
An upright form for the tea shelf, made in Yamanaka by a workshop over a hundred years old.
- Dimensions
- Materials
- Care Guide
Complete the look:
