Cast Iron Teapot identification

[oldnewjust4you]

I recently purchased this teapot at an estate sale. On the underside of the lid is a red and white sticker, which is not in the best condition. Do any of you recognize the sticker or style of teapot?

[argon38]

I can make absolutely nothing of the label. Have you investigated Japanese tetsubin? I'm seeing some with a similar look, but I really don't know, and I don't want to send you in the wrong direction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetsubin 

https://japanobjects.com/features/tetsubin 

[sonomabarn67]

Looks Japanese to me. I have a mid 19th cent Edo kitchen water well set with a wonderful pulley, chains/ wooden chain stops and buckets/ tetsubin rig in my Japanese room. How about a photo you ask. Maybe. The teapot of OP's  looks 20th c. 1950?  but I'm no expert, I just play one on the chat boards.

[mr_lincoln]

@oldnewjust4you   There is a good chance it is a Tetsubin.  In doing some searches several Tetsubin come up with that same handle on the lid ... looks like an inverted pine cone or a pineapple. 

As to the paper label on the inside of a tea kettle's lid ... that's a mystery, it would easily degrade in time from the steam from the water being boiled ... are there any markings on the underside of the piece?

Mr. L

[sonomabarn67]

No mystery, It is a retailer's paper label, one that never saw use, new old stock as they say. The top has seen moisture and then rusted.

[sonomabarn67]

I know nobody believes me here unless I show proof so...here is proof  of these Japanese items I speak of.

[maxine*j]

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@sonomabarn67 wrote:

No mystery, It is a retailer's paper label, one that never saw use, new old stock as they say. The top has seen moisture and then rusted.

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Yes.   And you can also tell it's newish from the rather poor and rough casting and from the color of that rust.

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[maxine*j]

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

... In doing some searches several Tetsubin come up with that same handle on the lid ... looks like an inverted pine cone or a pineapple...

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But, for whatever it's worth, that same pinecone (or whatever) knob is popular on Chinese cast iron teapots / tea kettles, too, including on new ones for sale on Amazon.

Of course, who is borrowing from whom, design-wise, I cannot say.

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[mr_lincoln]

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@sonomabarn67 wrote:

No mystery, It is a retailer's paper label, one that never saw use, new old stock as they say. The top has seen moisture and then rusted.

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BINGO @sonomabarn67  ... I restore Cast Iron from mainly old US foundries and they typically had piece markings in the sand casting mold not as a post manufacturing label.  That's why I asked about markings on the underside of the piece.  As to its age it could be mid-century, the rust color will often vary based on the ferrous content of the material being used so that's not always a good indication of age ...

Mr. L

[sonomabarn67]

Good to know. But that label is a good age indicator though.

[mr_lincoln]

@oldnewjust4you   Would it be possible to take a picture on the bottom on the pot?

[gracieallen01]

Well, it is definitely 'Asian'.  It could be Japanese or Chinese or .... .  Some would say it is too big for Japanese and just right for Chinese and others might say that it is a 'daily use' piece for a Japanese home in a rural area or for a bigger, perhaps extended, family or an inn, etc.  Both countries used them but with no writing on it and an illegible tag, flip a coin.

[gracieallen01]

I'm not too sure that the tag is such a good indicator of age.  Look at the finish of the lid interior around the tag and then look again at the exterior.  To me, it appears to be a 'produced/manufactured' finish.  I think Mr. L is on a good track with wanting to see the bottom.

[argon38]

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@gracieallen01 wrote:
I think Mr. L is on a good track with wanting to see the bottom.

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A look inside wouldn't hurt, either.

[sonomabarn67]

What does the paper label say? I think it is a very good indicator of age. I've seen paper labels on cast iron before and like i said i think that it could be 50's or newer.