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Some Steamy Secrets
March 15, 2008 | 21 Comments
Tetsubin teapots are traditional handcrafted Japanese cast iron teapots for tea or sake. There are two main types: those that are used for brewing tea, and those that are used for heating and carrying water (only) during Japanese tea ceremonies.
Tetsubin teapot
Photographer: Bee
Camera: Canon EOS 300D
Lens: 50mm Prime
Shutter speed: 5 sec
ISO Speed: 200
F-stop: f/5.0
In this pic the “steam” is a piece of dark grey paper taped to the background.
Tetsubin are often elaborately decorated with relief designs on the outside and glazed with enamel on the inside. A typical Tetsubin holds around .5 litres of water. It is usually sold with a tea strainer and an iron trivet decorated with a similar relief design..
The Tetsubin (pronounced “tet-SUE-bin”) teapot is a Japanese teapot made of cast iron. A typical Tetsubin teapot has a geometric, organic or animal pattern decoration on the side where its spout faces your right. This is because the pot is held in the left hand in Chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony. Its design is thought to have been influenced by the kettles of the common Japanese households of the 17th and 18th centuries. These kettles were simple in design and undecorated. They were typically hung on the fireplace hearth to provide hot water, warmth and humidity to a household; they were extremely practical pieces of kitchenware.
During this time period in Japan, tea drinking was not popular with the common citizen. Only the wealthy could afford Matcha, a type of powder used to brew tea. When the Chinese method of tea brewing called Sencha (brewing with whole leaves instead of the powder) was introduced to Japan, tea drinking became affordable and more accessible to common people. Despite Sencha, Chinese teapot styles were expensive, and the Japanese people adopted their hearth kettles to brew their tea. Thus, the Tetsubin teapot was created.
The Tetsubin teapot remained largely unmodified and simple until the 19th century, when Japanese art, which was gradually being influenced by the Chinese mainland as well, exploded in a cultural revolution. Over time, the Tetsubin style and design became more elaborate. (Source)
Exquisite Tetsubin designs at Morihisa Iron Studio and Shogun’s Gallery
Tetsubin teapots: Facts and History
The Japanese Tea Ceremony
Swirling Spoon
In this pic what looks like smoke is actually the swirl of a steel spoon with ghee (clarified butter) over the poli (flatbread) – totally unplanned.
Photographer: Jai
Camera: Canon EOS 300D
Lens: 100mm Macro
Shutter speed: 0.5 sec
ISO Speed: 200
F-stop: f/8.0
Event Details HERE
DEADLINE: March 30, 2008
Filed Under: Click, food-photography, Metal, Photo Essays, PHOTOGRAPHY, steam, teapot, Tetsubin
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21 Comments
Love both pictures, (but secretlu eyeing the Tetsubin)
Gawd, I almost bought that teapot last night! What stopped me was the price. Freaking $80. I loved how heavy it felt. Then I stopped to think: teapot or put it towards a new lens. Glass won over cast iron.
You got a 50mm? I am sooooo jealous!
yeah, that’s how it is priced at most places. we have three – two from TJ Maxx, one from the chinese store. we’ve never paid more than $20. keep looking. you’ll find one around that price. – b.
Wow..The pictures look amazing..
When u posted poli last week, I loved the pict with smoke, but now i can barely notice the spoon now :hammer: Pic are amazing
I have some real steam. No paper. No spoon. Chalega, you thnk?.
Teapot has been beautifully clicked!! Oh..so its not steam coming from poli then! Amazing …the vanishing spoon is visible only on having a closer look!! :drool: for poli, yet again!
oh wow thats a spoon in the second pic, wow.. love the pic…
Just saw Manisha’s amazing “teapot” pics, and there you are, with Bee’s photo of the teapot !!! Wondering whats it with teapots
…lovely pic.. Oh, and the poli one is too good, can’t believe it’s not smoke !
If you hadn’t mentioned it is not steam i would have really though it is.
Beautiful pictures
Fabulous pics!! You two rock :yes:
Gorgeous photos. I love the steam effects.
Ok guys, tell us one thing today.. be honest ok.. :hammer: All you always (24X7) ready with ur camera loaded.. I guess so, the kind of moments u capture (like the spoon wala).. u have to.. :secret:
Siri :horn:
we have the cameras surgically affixed to our foreheads. when we sneeze, it clicks.
– b.
Lovely pictures and really innovative ideas. You guys must be sneezing quite a bit then, huh?
The last pic is my fav, tho I like the tea pot too. :yes:
I’ve actually contemplated about buying one of those teapots myself! everytime I look at them, admire them, then feel I really woudn’t use them a lot and put them back on the shelf:)
both the pics look great!:)
Cast iron Japanese teapot? What a beautiful little green thingy. I am sure the tea brews really nicely in there.
Both pics look really good but I still can’t believe :no: that it’s a swirl made by a spoonful of ghee.. that definitely looks like smoke wafting.. Nice!
Jai that’s art!
Jai, thats a great shot. i wouldn’t have guessed spoon if you told me!
A
I love the teapot, it is a thing of beauty. Thanks for sharing your secrets.