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[[Image:Hanging kettle in Japan.jpg|thumb|A tetsubin cast iron kettle is suspended over a fire in a traditional Japanese style farm house, at the Boso-no-Mura Museum]]

[[File:Hanging kettle in Japan.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A tetsubin cast iron kettle is suspended over a fire in a traditional Japanese style farm house, at the Boso-no-Mura Museum]]

'''''Tetsubin'''''Japanese cast iron pots having a pouring spout, a lid, and a handle crossing over the top, used for boiling and pouring hot water for drinking purposes, such as for making [[tea]].

'''''Tetsubin'''''Japanese cast iron pots having a pouring spout, a lid, and a handle crossing over the top, used for boiling and pouring hot water for drinking purposes, such as for making [[tea]].

''Tetsubin'' are traditionally heated over a charcoal fire. In the Japanese art of [[Japanese tea ceremony]], the special portable brazier for this is the ''binkake''.

''Tetsubin'' are traditionally heated over a charcoal fire. In the Japanese art of [[Japanese tea ceremony]], the special portable brazier for this is the ''binkake''.

''Tetsubin'' are often elaborately decorated with relief designs on the outside. They range widely in size, and many have unusual shapes, making them popular with collectors. A relatively small ''tetsubin'' may hold around .5 litres of water; large ones may hold around 5 litres.   

''Tetsubin'' are often elaborately decorated with relief designs on the outside. They range widely in size, and many have unusual shapes, making them popular with collectors. A relatively small ''tetsubin'' may hold around .5 litres of water; large ones may hold around 5 litres.   

The historical origin of the ''tetsubin'' is not certain. At least one authoritative Japanese source states that it developed from the spouted and handled water kettle called ''tedorigama'' that was already being used in tea ceremony in the era of [[Sen no Rikyu]] (1522–91). During the 19th century, infused tea became more popular and ''tetsubin'' were considered primarily status symbols rather than functional kitchen items.

The historical origin of the ''tetsubin'' is not certain. At least one authoritative Japanese source states that it developed from the spouted and handled water kettle called ''tedorigama'' that was already being used in tea ceremony in the era of [[Sen no Rikyu]] (1522–91). During the 19th century, infused tea became more popular and ''tetsubin'' were considered primarily status symbols rather than functional kitchen items.

The prefectures of Iwate and Yamagata are best known for producing ''tetsubin'' as well as iron ''kyusu''.

The prefectures of Iwate and Yamagata are best known for producing ''tetsubin'' as well as iron ''kyusu''.

[[Image:TetsubinBlack.JPG|thumb| A modern tetsubin in use at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco café]]

[[Image:TetsubinBlack.JPG|thumb|250px|right| A modern tetsubin in use at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco café]]

==History==

==History==