As the birthplace of Tea culture, in recent years, the revival of tea culture in China has extended to the world of collecting, leading to an increasing public recognition of Yixing clay Teapots and tea leaves. Particularly, Yixing teapots have shown a strong upward trend at auctions.
Worthy of note is that in this wave of collecting enthusiasm, vintage Japanese iron kettles have become sought-after items among some collectors. The Japanese tea ceremony originates from China, and in the past two years, Japanese iron kettles have become new favorites among Chinese collectors, especially those that are over a century old, which have become increasingly rare.
Auction records show that in 2009, China Guardian offered several Japanese iron kettles at its “Guardian Seasons 20th Auction” in the “Celestial Celebrations – Timeless Classics: Aged Pu'er and Tea Utensils” session. One of these was a Japanese “Shunkodo-made Treasure Ship Birthday Wishing Iron Kettle,” standing 23.5 cm tall, weighing 1,705 g, and with a capacity of 1.5 L. The kettle's design conveys the message of “Inheriting the Eight Treasures, Longevity and Birthday Wishes,” showcasing the high level of casting craftsmanship of the Shunkodo period. This kettle is considered one of the classic works of Japanese ironware and sold for 358,000 RMB at the time.
According to available data, Japanese iron kettles originated from water-heating vessels during China's Tang and Song dynasties, and their earliest known examples date back to Japan's Edo period, several hundred years ago. However, today, only the southern region of Japan continues to produce ironware.
The water boiled in a vintage iron kettle tastes soft and sweet. Using a cast-iron kettle improves the water temperature significantly (as tested in Kunming, located in a high-altitude area in Yunnan, where the water temperature can approach 100°C), making it ideal for brewing dark tea. During the boiling process, the iron kettle absorbs chlorine ions from the water and releases ferrous iron, which can help prevent anemia and supplement iron intake when consumed over time.
Made from raw iron and crafted through casting techniques, combined with the artistic vision of the maker, vintage iron kettles embody a unique cultural heritage. You can use them as everyday water heaters for Health benefits, appreciate them as works of art, or collect them as antiques. The value of an iron kettle can vary greatly depending on the reputation and skill of its maker. Currently, the number of vintage Japanese iron kettles available for collecting is decreasing, causing their prices to skyrocket.