RARE SIGNED CAST IRON TETSUBIN RYUBUN DO ZEN TEA POT / KETTLE W/ RELIEF DESIGN

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You are viewing a rare signed cast iron Tetsubin zen tea kettle / teapot. This piece is signed on the inside of the lid by Ryubundo, a famous maker of these Japanese cast iron kettles. The piece is believed to be of the Meiji period. The kettle is estate fresh, and came from a military family who spent many years in Japan just after WWII until the 1960's. The family collected many pieces of Japanese pottery and tea items while in Japan at that time. Since 1964, when the family returned to the U.S., this piece has been properly cared for and stored over the years. This kettle features a wonderful relief design with an immortal, or elder, seated beneath a tree reading a scroll on one side, and a charming house beneath the trees on the other. The piece does have some rust, most notably on the interior of the piece, as is common with these items and use. The kettle measures about 10" tall to the top of the handle when the handle is raised, and is about 7" tall to the top of the finial on the lid when the lid is in place with handle down. The kettle is about 7" in diameter at the widest point. These kettles were used to boil water for tea only. This Tetsubin kettle is a fine example, and a fabulous addition to any collection! Our low opening bid does not reflect the quality of this item, but we all enjoy the challenge of a real auction! Please see the photos, as they give a better description than I possibly can. All items come from a smoke-free environment. Please email with any questions or for additional photos prior to bidding. White spots on photos are often the result of camera glare. Now for the "small print" .................... WE DO SHIP WORLDWIDE, with some exceptions as noted. Winning bidders are responsible for shipping costs, and MUST CONFIRM KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR WIN WITHIN 3 DAYS OF AUCTION END. This keeps everyone on the "same page"! PAYMENT IS DUE WITHIN 3 DAYS OF AUCTION END -- NO EXCEPTIONS!! Upon receipt of payment, item will be properly packed and shipped, normally within three (3) business days. Insurance is generally provided on breakable items. Should any damage occur in shipment of an item, it is the responsibility of the buyer to file the claim for insurance, as the original packing must be provided to the postal agent at buyer's receiving postal location. Any documentation necessary for filing of a claim will be provided to buyer upon notification of any damage occurring during shipment. A claim may also be made on line in lieu of filing at buyer's postal location with the postal service in some areas of the country. We normally use U.S. Postal Service-- parcel post service, but may use priority mail service for a particularly fragile item, or may use first class rate for savings on costs, if possible. UPS or FedEx may also be used for larger items. The listing will be updated with any tracking information available after shipment of item. WE DO COMBINE SHIPPING, PROVIDING IT IS SAFE FOR THE ITEMS BEING SHIPPED TO DO SO. Parcel post is quoted on the Ebay calculator, however, priority mail for valuable and fragile items is recommended. International bidders, please be aware that your country may hold a parcel for a longer period of time in customs. First Class International service does not include insurance or tracking, and Priority International Mail service includes limited insurance coverage for some countries, but no tracking from the U.S. is available. We sell old, antique and vintage items which are, therefore, not always perfect. Low opening bid does not reflect the quality of the item, but does make bidding more fun! We do not normally clean items, and they are presented as found. Clothing items are sold as-is with no returhns, so please be sure to check any measurements given. We may accept returns on other items, but only if our description is obviously different from the item itself. We make every effort to properly and accurately describe the items, but do sometimes make mistakes. Please let us know of any problems with items purchased, and we will do our best to mak... read more

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