Country of origin:
Japan
 
Period:
Late Edo period, Meiji (19th Century)
 
Item Type
Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
 
Materials:
Cast iron (tetsuki), with oni-men (demon-face) motif on furo, removable iron kettle (chagama) with fitted lid
 
Condition:
Good Condition, soma scratches
 
Color:
Grey
 
Authentic, True work of Art
 
Size 30cm x 31cm
 
This 鬼面風炉釜 (oni-men furogama) exemplifies the peak of Edo-period iron casting artistry applied to the refined world of chanoyu (the Japanese Way of Tea). The piece consists of two integral elements: the furo (brazier), adorned with a sculpted oni (demon mask) motif — and the chagama (iron kettle), crafted to sit seamlessly upon it. Together, they form a unity of functionality and symbolic presence at the heart of the tea room.
The oni-men design, depicting a stylized demon visage, is not merely decorative; it conveys a protective spiritual function. In traditional Japanese aesthetics, oni masks were often invoked as guardians warding off malevolent forces. In the serene environment of the chashitsu (tea room), this subtle evocation of strength serves as a counterbalance to the refined tranquility of the ceremony, an embodiment of yūgen, the profound beauty that dwells in contrast and mystery.
The surface bears the delicate texture characteristic of sand-cast iron, revealing minute traces of the mold, testimony to the mastery of the kama-shi (kettle caster). The soft iron sheen, deepened over generations of use, possesses the quiet dignity of wabi-sab: beauty found in imperfection, age, and patina.
The making of tea kettles (chagama) and braziers (furo) represents one of Japan’s most venerable metallurgical traditions, preserved by foundries such as Ryūbundo, Kiyomizu-dō, and Yamagata’s Oigen workshops.
Each casting demanded perfect control of heat, alloy composition, and mold humidity, a process as much spiritual as technical. Within the tea world, the kettle is revered as the "heart of the tea room" (釜は茶の心), for it is the sound of its simmering water (matsukaze, “wind in the pines”) that sets the meditative tone of the gathering.
This oni-men furogama thus stands as both functional utensil and spiritual instrument, merging metallurgy, ritual, and philosophy. The iron itself becomes a vessel of transformation, from raw ore into sacred form, echoing the Zen teaching that enlightenment arises through the tempering of experience.
In profile, the brazier’s swelling curvature and firm lip convey a sense of poised energy, while the oni mask, cast in subtle relief, introduces an element of tension within harmony, the aesthetic dialogue between the fierce and the serene. The kettle’s shoulders are rounded yet restrained, its lid fitting with precise gravity, emphasizing the unity of design and purpose.
The overall composition aligns with Momoyama-to-Edo period wabi aesthetics, emphasizing simplicity, solidity, and quiet presence rather than ornamentation. When placed within the subdued light of a tearoom alcove, the dark iron absorbs and diffuses the surrounding glow, creating a visual depth that invites stillness and contemplation.
Within Zen-infused chanoyu, the furogama symbolizes controlled transformation , fire beneath water, passion beneath calm.
The oni-men element reinforces the paradoxical nature of tea practice: the co-existence of fierce discipline and profound peace. Just as the oni guards against spiritual distraction, the practitioner cultivates inner stillness amidst worldly turbulence.
The soft whisper of the boiling kettle, matsukaze, becomes a sonic metaphor for the Buddhist path, reminding us that enlightenment is found not in transcendence of the ordinary, but in intimate awareness of it.
Comparable examples of oni-men furogama can be found in the collections of:
The Tokyo National Museum, “Utensils for the Way of Tea” exhibition
The Suntory Museum of Art, Tokyo, “The Art of Chanoyu Metalwork”
The Kyoto National Museum, “Meiji Iron Casting and Traditional Aesthetics”
Such pieces are highly sought by collectors and connoisseurs for their combination of spiritual symbolism, artisanal excellence, and historical authenticity.