Nambu Ironware Swallow Pot Water Kettle Teapot by Akira Kikuchi

Home > Winners > #151573




DESIGN DETAILS
DESIGN NAME:
Nambu Ironware Swallow Pot

PRIMARY FUNCTION:
Water Kettle Teapot

INSPIRATION:
Sudden and disastrous spread of Covid-19 throughout the world completely changed our notion of daily life—all of a sudden we confronted with harsh realities by losing someone close to us; we had to completely stop our daily routines―commuting to work or school, or going out to enjoy holidays or seeing families; even daily glossary shopping had to be skipped not to get in touch with people. Everyone in the world confronted with Covid issue realized what we had used to think natural and common is no longer normal. This made us look into our own mind, through slower lifestyles or mindfulness—in detail, people took notice with more spiritual ideas and activities such as “zen” or “Japanese tea ceremony”, and traditional Nambu Tetsubin received attention as an instrument to be used in such activities and ceremonies. Within such trend of our times, the purpose of producing this product is to find a true balance between user-friendliness and Japanese traditional craftsmanship in a product used in our daily life, in order to bring up the product to a new stage, suitable for younger generations with modern lifestyles. Today, our family composition has become smaller with less number of family members, and selection and usage of kitchen tools is more selective yet personalized in our modern lifestyles to look for additional values, such as health-giving element or good design statement. Within this trend, the design qualities and its large size of the traditional Nambu tetsubin no longer meet the needs of the market. For example, traditional Nambu tetsubin is equipped with a handle designed to be hung over the fire at the fireplace—therefore it is necessary to change its design more suitable for today’s dining and living environment. This is one reason the popularity of smaller, more colorful Tetsubin has grown larger in today’s market. However, the quality and identity of traditional Nambu Tesubin has been diminished within such trend at the same time. Inner surface of most of tetsubins in the market has enamel finish for preventing rust, but this finish prevents iron to dissolve into the water, a known benefit of Nambu Tetsubin for health reason. This modern and functional Tetsubin is our attempt and the response for recreating and re-releasing the Tetsubin after 30 years of its production, in order to take Nambu Tetsubin into a new height by integrating the quality, functionality and good user-friendly design for Nambu Tetsubin suitable for today’s lifestyle, through reexamining both tradition and today’s trend. In order to design a small iron kettle to cater for today’s family with smaller make-up, while providing personalized design statement with modern functionality, past Nambu ironware products were reexamined. Upon designing our small Tetsubin to cater towards modern families, we found one of our products produced in the 1980s would fit in this direction. Compared to this 1980s Tetsubin, it was quite obvious that traditional Nambu Tetsubin give some negative impressions within this direction for its massive, large dimensions and weight with old-fashioned design features. Some of those Nambu ironware produced in 1980's had different design direction from those traditionao Nambu ironware, reflecting the trend influence of Scandinavian design or mid-century design. Unfortunately, Japanese market trend of those days was more toward basic traditional Japanese design, therefore such modern design was soon discontinued due to a lack of popularity from the distributor and retails channels. However, today's market has widely accepted Scandinavian design and mid-century design, while younger generation also took notice and realized the value of Nambu Tetsubin as a traditional product; within this context, the design features of this Nambu Tetsubin produced in 1980's seemed to be suitable for today's small families looking for modern functionality and design features. This became true when this 80's Tetsubin was re-released that the product received big attention in social media, illustrating how this product could fit for today’s needs, and break the archaic impression of traditional Nambu ironware. For final production to be re-releaved in the actual market, the design was finalized by incorporating the requests from actual users. It is said that production and use of Nambu Tetsubin started about 400 years ago. Originally, a large teakettle fixed in the corner of a room was used during Japanese tea ceremony, while it was soon transformed for more daily usage by making it more portable for easier handling, with a smaller body and a handle. These features have been preserved until today, giving the unique appearance to Nambu Tetsubin product. Its handicraft method is widely recognized as one of the most well-known Japanese traditional handicraft product known as Nambu ironware. Traditional craftmanship and design features of Nambu ironware has been inherited in the Nambu ironware manufacture, Oitomi, and the seventh generation artisan of this manufacture, Akira Kikuchi. However, traditional design of Nambu Tetsubin has some drawbacks for daily usage in modern lifestyles and environment. For example, the size of a traditional Tetsubin is quite large and massive; water tends to remain at the bottom of the body because of the round shape; the lid of traditional Nambu Tetsubin does not have a hole to release excess steams, thus hot water could boiled over from the body (the reason for not providing steam-relieving hole is to enjoy the “ticking sound” of a lid hitting the body of the pot when water is boiling during tea ceremonies); the movable handle was often difficult to handle and pour because keeping balance with the heavy weight of the body was difficult. The new design features of this Tetsubin are the responses for those issues found in those massive, archaic traditional Nambu Tetsubin, promoting dramatically new impression for Nambu Tetsubin suitable within modern lifestyles of a small family.

UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Traditional Nambu Tetsubin has some drawbacks when used by a small family with modern lifestyle. Thus, its size is reduced for easier handling, the round shape was replaced with square shape in straight line as the water tends to remain at the bottom. Movable round handle is fixed and given straight line to hold easily, while the handle and the spout are set at the same height to pour by a little twist of the wrist. This Tetsubin is named Swallow Pot for its swallow-like appearance.

OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION:
This Tetsubin functions both as a kettle and a teapot. The main body has a flat bottom unlike traditional Nambu Tetsubin, so that it is very stable when put on a stovetop or flat surfaces. The handle draws straight line yet round surface, which feels easy on hand; the angle of the handle attached to the main body keeps hand away from the hot body, and pouring is easy just by a slight twist of a wrist. Wooden knob on the lid allows to pick up the lid easily without touching the hot iron surface.

PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION:
Development of the prototype began in the 1980s, and the latest improved version was released on January 7th, 2021.

PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY:
Cooking with ironware is effective to take iron content to our body. However, ironware with enameled finish for rust prevention eliminates this benefit. Oitomi incorporates traditional Kamayaki method to form oxide film on iron surface for rusting, allowing Tetsubin to supply iron without rusting. Oitomi is working with Kinki University to reduce CO2 emissions during manufacturing by replacing typical coke furnaces fuel with bio-coke made from apple pomace considered as carbon neutral material.

SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES:
Materials: Cast iron, Cherry wood with Urushi lacquer finish (lid knob), Stainless steel (tea strainer) Dimensions: Spout to end of handle: 25 cm Diameter: 11.5 cm Height: 9.5 cm Capacity: 0.6 L Weight: 1.3 kg

TAGS:
kettle, teaware, teapot, ironware, cast iron

RESEARCH ABSTRACT:
-

CHALLENGE:
-

ADDED DATE:
2023-04-16 07:16:12

TEAM MEMBERS (2) :
Producer & Art Director: Kaito Kikuchi of Nambu Ironware Studio Oitomi and Collaborative production partner: Marusan Shikki Hidehira-nuri lacquerware manufacture

IMAGE CREDITS:
Akira Kikuchi, 2023.

Visit the following page to learn more: https://oitomi.com/


CLIENT/STUDIO/BRAND DETAILS
NAME:
Nambu Ironware Studio Oitomi

PROFILE:
Nambu Ironware Studio Oitomi was founded in 1848 with 170 year of history, originating from the craft making of iron tea kettle used in Japanese tea ceremony. We are group of artisans committed to sustainable product manufacturing based on craftsmanship established in its long history, utilizing traditional cast iron technique with iron as a sustainable natural material, which would contribute toward preserving natural resources and environment for future generations.



NOMINATION DETAILS

Nambu Ironware Swallow Pot Water Kettle Teapot by Akira Kikuchi is a Nominee in Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design Category.

· This project is currently confidential as results have not been announced yet. Images and further details of the project is not available for public yet, please check back later. If you are the owner of this design, please login to view the images.

· Click here to register today inorder to be able to view the profile and other works by Akira Kikuchi when results are announced.


AWARD DETAILS

Nambu Ironware Swallow Pot Water Kettle Teapot by Akira Kikuchi is Winner in Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design Category, 2023 - 2024.



· Press Members: Login or Register to request an exclusive interview with Akira Kikuchi.

· Click here to register inorder to view the profile and other works by Akira Kikuchi.


SOCIAL
+ Add to Likes / Favorites | Send to My Email | Submit Comment | Comment | Testimonials | View Press-Release | Press Kit



Did you like Akira Kikuchi's Kitchenware Design?
You will most likely enjoy other award winning kitchenware design as well.
Click here to view more Award Winning Kitchenware Design.


Did you like Nambu Ironware Swallow Pot Water Kettle Teapot? Help us create a global awareness for good kitchenware design worldwide. Show your support for Akira Kikuchi, the creator of great kitchenware design by gifting them a nomination ticket so that we could promote more of their great kitchenware design works.

See other A' Design Award and Competition WinnersA' Design Award Presentation Submit Your Designs
 
design award logo

BENEFITS
THE DESIGN PRIZE
WINNERS SERVICES
PR CAMPAIGN
PRESS RELEASE
MEDIA CAMPAIGNS
AWARD TROPHY
AWARD CERTIFICATE
AWARD WINNER LOGO
PRIME DESIGN MARK
BUY & SELL DESIGN
DESIGN BUSINESS NETWORK
AWARD SUPPLEMENT

METHODOLOGY
DESIGN AWARD JURY
PRELIMINARY SCORE
VOTING SYSTEM
EVALUATION CRITERIA
METHODOLOGY
BENEFITS FOR WINNERS
PRIVACY POLICY
ELIGIBILITY
FEEDBACK
WINNERS' MANUAL
PROOF OF CREATION
WINNER KIT CONTENTS
FAIR JUDGING
AWARD YEARBOOK
AWARD GALA NIGHT
AWARD EXHIBITION

MAKING AN ENTRY
ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS
REGISTRATION
ALL CATEGORIES

FEES & DATES
FURTHER FEES POLICY
MAKING A PAYMENT
PAYMENT METHODS
DATES & FEES

TRENDS & REPORTS
DESIGN TRENDS
DESIGNER REPORTS
DESIGNER PROFILES
DESIGN INTERVIEWS

ABOUT
THE AWARD
AWARD IN NUMBERS
HOMEPAGE
AWARD WINNING DESIGNS
DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
MUSEUM OF DESIGN
PRIME CLUBS
SITEMAP
RESOURCE

RANKINGS
DESIGNER RANKINGS
WORLD DESIGN RANKINGS
DESIGN CLASSIFICATIONS
POPULAR DESIGNERS

CORPORATE
GET INVOLVED
SPONSOR AN AWARD
BENEFITS FOR SPONSORS
IMPRESSUM IMPRINT

PRESS
DOWNLOADS
PRESS-KITS
PRESS PORTAL
LIST OF WINNERS
PUBLICATIONS
RANKINGS
CALL FOR ENTRIES
RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT

CONTACT US
CONTACT US
GET SUPPORT

Good design deserves great recognition.
A' Design Award & Competition.