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Japanese Antique Wabi-Sabi Iron Block "Anvil" 1900s-1940s / Figurine Object

$800List Price

About the Item

This is an old Japanese iron block. Originally an anvil to be buried underground, it is believed to have been used for a long time in Japan's unique blacksmithing culture. This iron block is estimated to have been made in the early Showa period (1900s-1940s) before World War II. In the absence of electric tools, it was used in small workshops and rural blacksmith shops to forge hoes, sickles, carpentry tools, or small swords. They were buried in the ground and had a practical structure that allowed the impact of the work to be released to the ground, reducing the burden on the tool and the craftsman. Installed in earthen floors and outdoor workshops, these blocks were at the center of the blacksmith's daily life, and we can still feel the craftsmen's breath in them today. The surface is characterized by a rough, rugged, rustic finish that has not been overworked. Rust, a natural result of the long years it has spent in the ground, covers the entire surface, giving it a rich expression that is hard to believe it is iron. It is like an abstract sculpture, and the beauty of the form created by chance resides in it. Although its original role as a tool has ended, this piece of iron now has a new value as a piece of art that radiates a quiet presence. The less-than-perfect shape, rust, weight, and quietness. All reflect the spirit of “wabi sabi,” a rare example of Japanese aesthetic sensibility. Weight: 17.5 kg _______________________________________ Our Philosophy Objects always tell the truth. All I can do is just to face with them sincerely and give them deep affection as much as I can. There is no boundary of nationalities and of eras in beauty. But I think now is the time we choose 'Japanese style' and it will be the best way to remind us of what we are losing today and to question us about an essence of beauty again. I hope that you can touch the memories which the objects here have, feel and think of something invisible but exists undoubtedly.

Dimensions:
Height: 10.63 in (27 cm)Width: 4.73 in (12 cm)Depth: 3.15 in (8 cm)
Style:
Showa (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Iron,Metalwork
Place of Origin:
Japan
Period:
Mid-20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1900s-1940s
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Chōsei District Nagara, JP
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU10403245374662

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