Explore the Hidehira-nuri collection
Hiraizumi Chopsticks — two pairs in black and bengara, finished with gold
Hiraizumi Chopsticks — two pairs in black and bengara, finished with gold
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Why this set
This pattern carries the name Hiraizumi itself, the Iwate town where Hidehira-nuri began. The set comes as two pairs, one black and one bengara (a red ochre), each finished with gold at the handle. The look is quieter than the fully gilded pieces in the range, equally at home on a weekday table or wrapped as a gift.
The pattern
Hidehira-nuri is built on gold worked by hand over a lacquer ground, alongside painted motifs drawn from Hiraizumi's Heian-era culture. Here that work sits at the head of each chopstick, where gold diamonds are set around a dark cross and carry on around the curve. A fine red line marks where the two lacquers meet. The black pair takes a bengara head, the bengara pair a black one. Each pair is shaped from maras, a dense hardwood, before the lacquer is built up by hand.
The workshop
Marusan Shikki has made Hidehira-nuri lacquerware in Ichinoseki, Iwate, since 1904 and is now in its fifth generation. Wood-turning, undercoating and lacquer work all happen under one roof, through to the final finish.
What to know before you buy
This is lacquerware rather than everyday plastic cutlery, so a little care goes a long way. A quick hand wash in lukewarm water is enough, followed by a soft cloth rather than air drying. Keep the pair away from the microwave, the dishwasher and the bottom of a full sink, and avoid anything abrasive on the lacquer. The lacquer and the gold at the handle are built up by hand, not printed on, and reward the same gentle handling as any Hidehira-nuri piece.
Details
223mm per chopstick, two pairs to a set. Ships from Japan via DHL with tracking; in stock, usually within about a week.
If a quieter pair suits your table, you can place an order below. Have a question about care or sizing first? Send us a message; the two of us read and reply to each one personally.
Specificaties
Specificaties
- Category: Cutlery
- Type: Chopsticks
- Material: Maras wood, urushi lacquer in black and bengara (red-ochre), with gold decoration
- Technique: Hidehira-nuri
- Size: 223mm (length)
Heritage & Credentials
Heritage & Credentials
Hidehira-nuri carries a documented history and an official craft designation.
- Designated a Traditional Craft (伝統的工芸品) by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 1985.
- Traces to the late Heian period, when Fujiwara no Hidehira brought lacquer craftsmen from Kyoto to what is now Iwate.
- Rooted in the Hiraizumi area of Iwate, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Kept alive today by only two dedicated workshops in Japan.
- Its production method is government-defined down to the base coat, hon-kataji, the most robust of Japan's lacquer primers.
Verzorging & aandachtspunten
Verzorging & aandachtspunten
This is handmade Hidehira-nuri lacquerware. A little care keeps it in daily use for years.
- Wash by hand in lukewarm water with a mild detergent. Skip abrasive sponges, the microwave, and the dishwasher.
- For the first two to three months of use, start with lukewarm rather than very hot food or drink, so the lacquer settles in gradually.
- Avoid long soaking in water.
- Dry with a soft cloth after washing, rather than air-drying.
- Store away from direct sunlight.
- Cured lacquer rarely causes an allergic reaction. If your skin is sensitive, you may want to test it against the inside of your wrist first.
Over verzending
Over verzending
Every piece ships from Japan.
- We ship to the UK and the EU, via DHL, with tracking included.
- This sale is made under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) terms. If import duty applies, it's billed directly to Toramonten, not to you.
- Customs authorities may contact the recipient directly, and we can't say in advance which orders this might affect.
- This piece is in stock and ships within about a week of your order.
Over de werkplaats
Over de werkplaats
