Hiramaru gama
H: 14cm D: 18cm
(awasebako)
Iron kettle
By Nishimura Dōnin (1504-1555)
Muromachi period, Early to middle 16th century

Nishimura Dōnin (Kuniji) lived in Sanjō Kaman-za, Kyoto. Oda Nobunaga – a powerful samurai daimyo who initiated the unification of Japan - gave him the title of tenka-ichi (best in the world). It is said that he was one of the kamashi (kettle master) served to Oda Nobunaga and the famous tea ceremony master Takeno Jōō. He was the first to establish the Kyōgama (Kyoto iron kettle).
This kettle is certified by Ōnishi Jōju (1808-1876) who succeeded the name of the kamashi family, Ōnishi Seiwemon the eleventh.

It has rough skin and there are paulownia patterns. This crest, originally used by the imperial family, was given to Oda Nobunaga by Ashikaga Yoshinori, the 6th shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate in the Muromachi period, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi used it as his family crest.
The body shape is hiramaru, the ears for ring handle are shell shaped. The lid is emyō-buta, made of karakane (copper alloy) which gives this beautiful rusty vermilion colour.