Hisao Iwashimizu's tea pot

I have heard that nanbu ironware is getting popular in Europe.

This small tea pot is also from nanbu iron.
Quite simple and beautiful!
The Japanese name of it is "Tamagonoko", and it means egg's child when I translate it literally.
It was designed by Hisao Iwashimizu, and it had been displayed at MoMA in 2000.

About lid, you can choose nanbu iron or wooden one.

Arabia Finland "VERKKO" plate

I like Arabia Finland and have some items, but this is the only plate I have.

The name of this pattern is called "Verkko", and designed in 1950s.
The meaning of "Verkko" is network, mesh and net.
I love this simple but well-thought-out design and colors.

The plate and wooden cutlery fit together very well, plus I think that it is designed to fit every food.

Magis "dish doctor"

I love "Magis", which is an Italian brand and products are so creative, stylish and lovely.
One of them is this dish rack, and its name is "dish doctor".

I love it because it is not only smart but also has functionality.

The designer of dish doctor is Marc Newson, one of my most favorite designers.
I used to use the cell phone designed by him when I was in Japan and I have been interested in every his design from small stuffs to big items like Ford 021c.

Mini photo album

When my friends came over for lunch last month, I taught them how to craft this mini photo album.

The size of this album is about 3"(7.5cm) X 2"(5cm), and it can include eight pieces of small pictures.

They don't usually craft something like me, but enjoyed crafting together as well as having lunch.
One of them asked me to teach them something once a month, then I am going to come up with some ideas and teach them something different every month.
The theme for next time is going to be how to make a handcurved eraser stamp.

Stig Lindberg "ADAM" cup & saucer

When my friends come over and have a cup of coffee or tea after meal, they can choose their favorite cup & saucer from among my collections.
I think that this is probably the most favorite one for them.

This cup & saucer is made of Gustavsberg, designed by Stig Lindberg, and this pattern is called "Adam".
As you may imagine, there is another pattern which is called "Eva", and the conbination of its colors is red and white.
I think that it is not difficult for you to get "Adam", but much harder to see "Eva", because it is said that Eva is the most scarce one among the items designed by Stig Lindberg.

Swadeshi leather sabot

As you may know, Japan is one of the countries where people take off their shoes in the house. American people usually wear their shoes in the house, and it seems that the former inhabitants, who are originally from India, were wearing their shoes as well, but we take them off.

I bought these leather sabots when I came back temporarily to Japan this February, and I have been wearing them in this season(Actually, I have another slipper for winter season).

They are all handstitched in India.
I love this rustic atmosphere.

FACIT mechanical calculator

I found this calculator at an antique shop when I visited Finland last year.
It is a product of FACIT, which was an industrial corporation and manufacturer of office products based in Sweden.

I had already bought a lot of vintage tableware before I encountered it and I found that it was much heavier than I expected(Actually, it weighs 7kg(16Lbs)!!).
When I was wondering if I should buy it or not, my husband said, "Why don't you buy it and think about how to take it home later?"
All told, it was brought with me from Finland to Japan, and now it is in the U.S.

It was made in 1954, but still works accurately.
If you would like to know how to operate this, refer to this page.

Letter day

The 23rd of every month is "letter day" in Japan.
Therefore I wrote some letters today though I know that there are few people who are aware of this day and write a letter.

I often write a letter, especially I have been writing a lot since I came to the U.S.
I think that writing a letter is a good thing even though you have other means of communication with the rise of the Internet.
Most of my friends haven't written letters recently as well, but they have been getting interested in this analog sort of way since they began to receive my airmail and reply me.

I sometimes make cards and envelopes by myself designing to match the receiver's image.

I think that I basically like to make something.
Also, I always take time to choose stamps as well.

For non-Japanese friends, I often select some Japanese traditional letter papers and envelopes.
Actually, I hadn't been interested in such kind of Japanese stationery, but I began to buy them after around the time of my moving to the U.S.

I think that it was a good opportunity for me to find out the beauty of Japanese design.

I am coming back temporarily to Japan in July and August, and I would like to find some nice Japanese designs during my stay.

TALBOTT prescription case

I think that this is one of the most unique American antique stuffs I have.

This is an old prescription case which was made from steel.
According to the dates of prescriptions, I guess that it had been used in 1950s and 60s.

I love these aging labels.

Six batches of prescriptions were housed within the case, and these are nice as well.

I have displayed some of them in my antique room.

A.C.PERCH'S THEHANDEL

I prefer tea to coffee.
One of my favorite tea brands is "A.C.PERCH'S THEHANDEL".
It may be unfamiliar name to you.
This company has been in business for over 170 years based in Copenhagen, and its products have been royal warrant in Denmark.
Also, it is the oldest tea boutique in North Europe.

There are two boutiques in Japan as well, and you can have a cup of tea and buy some tea leaves in Tokyo and Ashiya.

When I went to the flagship store in Copenhagen two years ago, it was temporarily closing.
I would like to visit there again and have a cup of freshly drawn tea.

NICHIBAN tape cutter

I have used this tape cutter for about three years.

This is a product of NICHIBAN, which is a Japanese company and famous for Scotch tape.

It looks like used or antique, but it is not.

It matches vintage Japanese furniture and stationery very much.

ARABIA/FINEL mushroom pattern

I think that this pattern is common and popular among Arabia Finland fans.

This mushroom pattern was designed by Kaj Franck and Esteri Tomula.
I love this form as well as the design.
This shape is good for whipping, and I have been using it almost everyday because I like to make sweets.

This is a cheese cutting board and I guess that it will be more difficult to find it than the above bowl.

The bowl is made from enamel, but this is ceramic.

Simple but elaborate design!!!

TENUGUI

"TENUGUI" is a piece of dyed cotton cloth(33cm x 90cm) and has been used as a wiping tool such as a towel or handkerchief, and it was also used as a bandage or headwear in the old days.

The drawing patterns of TENUGUI used to be traditional Japanese designs, and mainly it was used by older people.

However, a range of designs and colors has been offered recently and younger people are getting interested in TENUGUI.

Also, people have found even more ways to use it, from place mats to tapestry for decorating their homes.

After coming to U.S., I have used TENUGUI as a part of table decorations such as a napkin or hand towel so that I can show something Japanese to non-Japanese guests at the table.

I think it was "KAMAWANU" that sparked off the TENUGUI boom in Japan, which is a company that develops and sells TENUGUI in Daikanyama, Tokyo.

They have produced various TENUGUIs and it is so interesting for us to see the designs.

I would like to introduce some TENUGUIs I have.
First of all, collections from KAMAWANU.

These are some of their standard articles.
They are designed by arranging traditional Japanese patterns.

They are very Japanese designs when we see them as a single item, but I think they can fit with European tableware.

This is the product of KAMAWANU as well, and I sometimes give it to a non-Japanese friend as a gift.

The design of this TENUGUI includes some food, tools and places which represent Japan and each name in Japanese is accompanied below the illustrations.
In addition, "NIPPON" means Japan in Japanese language.

This is not of KAMAWANU, but it is an unique TENUGUI that a friend of mine, who is the owner of Scandinavian ceramic shop, sent it to me with an invitation card of his shop's event.

This was designed in the motif of "ANEMON", which is one of representive designs of Rorstrand, Swedish ceramic maker.
There has been a North Europe boom for these 2-3 years in Japan, and this is the collaboration between TENUGUI and North Europe.

I have another TENUGUI related to North Europe.

As you see, the base of this design is Finnish National flag.

My friend gave it to me and I love it!
When I came back temporarily to Japan this spring, I brought my bento(lunch box) covered with TENUGUI wrapping, and had a bento party with my friends.

TENUGUI is just a white plain cloth, but it is possible to dye various graphic designs on it.
I have been attracted to TENUGUI because I left Japan and I am seeing Japan as a non-Japanese in a way as well as a Japanese.

SAVON AU LAIT

I found these boxes at the antique shop that I first visit.
Basically, dealers usually offer American antiques, but sometimes you can find items from some other countries.

As you see, they are Swiss soap containers.
The bigger one's diameter is almost 3"(8cm) and 2"(5cm) for the smaller one.
I like this kind of box, so I sometimes choose a cheese or butter not because it tastes good but because the design of its box is nice :-D
However, according to my experiences, I think that this way of choosing is not completely wrong.
Because cheeses which container has a good design are usually more expensive than others and they often taste good!!

I have put old American milk caps in the boxes.
Milk caps have wide variations and it is also fun for me to see them.

Royal Copenhagen White Plain Signature

I am not interested in traditional European pottery makers such as Royal Copenhagen, Meissen porcelain, or Wedgwood very much.
But this is different.

The name of this series is "White Plain Signature".
Literally, the logo of Royal Copenhagen is drawn on a white plain plate.
The design is very simple, but impressive and fresh.

Unexpectedly, it is not easy to arrange food on this plate showing the logo.

In connection with this, I have some kitchen magnets of this series.
PEPSI Japan was running a campaign at the end of last year, and we could get a magnet if we bought a bottle of PEPSI NEX.
The magnets in this picture are almost real-size.

Schleich animal toys

I love collecting tableware and kitchenware, and some of them are displayed on the shelves in my living room.
Almost all the items are from North European countries like Sweden, Finland or Norway and each design is so nice, but I don't feel good enough that everything is just displayed orderly.
I think that something is needed among them.

These small animals are of "Schleich", a German producer of toy figurines and accessories.

I have set them in places on the shelves so that the display can avoid becoming monotonous.

I sometimes use fake fruits, dry flowers and some books as well for variety's sake.

Schleich has tons of animal toys and you can get them for between $2 and $10.

Pick and pick box

I think that this box has been designed and is based on Japan's national flag.

Some wooden picks are inside of the box.

I bought this box at the shop in "Claska", which is a modern and stylish hotel in Tokyo.
I haven't stayed at this hotel, but the shop on the 2nd floor and the cafe on the 1st floor were very nice.
This shop/gallery offers products only designed and made in Japan, and almost all the products are "Japanese modern" style.
I can find a lot of items I want to get at this shop.

C.O. BIGELOW

This brand may be popular in the U.S., but I haven't heard of the name of "C.O. BIGELOW" until last week.
When I was walking around the shopping mall near my house, I found the shop of C.O. BIGELOW.

C.O. BIGELOW offers a broad range of cosmetics, fragrances and other items including their private brand products.
This company has 170 years of history.
Its logo, labels and packages are antique style and in the shop, products are displayed with some real antiques.

The design of papers and bags is nice as well.

Unfortunately, the shop near my house will be closed next weekend.
I have to buy further in a week!