Beyond Bento Boxes and to a Work of Art. This is a special bentwood water dispenser called Mizutsugi. It may look like a western-style teapot, but this vessel existed in Japan for hundreds of years in the world of chanoyu tea ceremony.  It's function is to transport hot water from the boiling kettle into the water container in a tea ceremony when the water stove is not within the cermonial room. The lid is designed flat for the chakin (tea handkerchief) to be placed on top.  
 
Doctrines recorded that famous 16th century Tea Master Senno Rikyu's favored using bentwood unfinish cedar containers. 
 
These items hasn't changed much since its initate use few centuries ago.  ShibataToku are frequented by tea ceremony practitioners for these made-to-order high-end vessels, where Mr. Morita and Ms. Shibata has to have extensive knowledge of detail specifications of a wide variety of tea-ceremony wares.  This is great for woodware collectors, or do use it for tea and water!  It is functional and made to be used (no tea-ceremony rules to comply!)
 
SHIPPING COST in included when order this unit!  Email us if you are ordering more items and see if we can combine shipping to offer free shipping for the entire order. 
 
Made with Japanese Japanese cedar wood, with the iconic cherry tree bark stitches.  This water dispenser is uncoated on the outside as how Master Rikyu would like it,  and food-safe urethane-coated on the inside for water resistance. 

Handmade by Mr. Morita and Ms. Shibata.  Own a piece of unique bentwood craft history from Hakata Fukuoka. 
 
*NOTE:  As with handmade items, you will see artisan's marks on the box.  Some visible marks left from the tools is normal.  This is not a factory mass-produced item.  ShibataToku's woodshop uses machines from over 50-60 years ago. Couple of bentwood machines were invented by the early founders as well.  Hence the touch (tactility) is more rustic than items made by modern-day high-speed power tools.  A lot of parts still relies on hand chiseling and trimming.