"Origami" incense holder
Details
Material:
Metal
Dimensions:
Length: 8.5cm
Width: 8.5cm
Height: 2.3cm
Care instructions
Special
At a glance
- Cast iron, Yamagata imono (山形鋳物), METI-designated traditional craft
- By Hisanori Masuda of Chushin Kobo; sole craftsman, founded 1997
- 8.5cm square; suited to shorter incense sticks; develops patina with use
Iron folded like paper. It is a simple idea, and the execution is exact.
The Origami incense holder by Chūshin Kōbō (鋳心ノ工房) is cast from iron into two sharp, angled planes that meet at a central ridge, mimicking the crease of a single folded sheet. The form reads differently from every angle: straight on it is almost flat; from the side it reveals its geometry. Made by Hisanori Masuda, founder and sole craftsman of the Yamagata studio, the piece is cast using the Yamagata imono (山形鋳物) tradition, a METI-designated craft, and hand-finished until the surfaces are smooth and the edges precise. A small hole or groove holds the incense stick at a gentle angle whilst the weight of the iron keeps the whole thing perfectly still. The surface develops a quiet patina with use, darkening gradually over time.
At 8.5cm square, it is compact enough to sit anywhere. The kind of object that earns a second look.
* Incense sticks shown in photo are not included