Four Mythological Creatures Lid Lifters

Susumu Yotsukawa

These lifters are used to pick up the lid of an incense burner. They are adorned with the four mythological creatures: Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger and Black Tortoise, believed to be auspicious, ward off evil spirits and strike a balance between Yin and Yang. In Chinese astrology, these creatures also represent the four cardinal points ー North, East, South and West.

STORY OF THE TRADITIONAL CRAFT

The Yotsukawa brothers are the third-generation successors of the family business. Susumu Yotsukawa is the brand producer of KISEN while his elder brother Motomasa Yotsukawa is the president of KISENDO.

KISENDO was founded by the grandfather of Susumu Yotsukawa in 1946 during wartime. At that time, metals had to be submitted for wartime needs. People collected metal materials from discarded combat vehicles and broken aircrafts to make the most needed daily utensils ー pots, which prompted his grandfather to start his casting business. 

Likewise, the father of Susumu was also a casting master. When his father was in charge of the firm, the current showroom was a copper casting factory. In the 1970s and 1980s, the business shifted its focus to design and began collaborating with various copper casting craftsmen in Takaoka to produce the copperware. Together, the designers and craftsmen made timeless homeware that meet the needs of modern families. 

Challenges evolve with the times. For Susumu Yotsukawa, his challenge is to design delicate craftwork as gifts. He founded KISEN with the refined title of his family business in 2014, since then he has been creating a new collection every year for the brand. Discovering that wooden cups could bring out the flavor of sake, the design team developed a woodware line five years ago.

MAKING PROCESS

The majority of KISENDO and KISEN’s works utilize the casting techniques of Takaoka Copperware, one of the traditional crafts in Japan. Casting makes use of the fact that metal melts at high temperatures. Molten metal is poured into molds and allowed to cool and harden.

Takaoka Copperware is a type of copperware produced in the area around the city of Takaoka in Toyama prefecture. The various products range from small items such as indoor ornaments and vases to larger items such as temple bells and copper statues.

The notable features of Takaoka Copperware are the skillful hands-on casting techniques of the artisans and the polishing, metal carving and inlaying production techniques. These techniques have been combined and developed to create a wealth of styles. People are fascinated when they see the strength, delicacy, and flexibility of Takaoka Copperware, which is made so that it takes on a profound expression over time and can be enjoyed as it changes throughout the years.

Artworks from same series

OTHER WORKS FROM EXHIBITION

Lunar Luster

Fanson Lam

See Details

Eternal Illumination: A Journey Through Time

Fanson Lam

See Details

Silent Timekeeper

Fanson Lam

See Details

The Cypress’s Whisper

Liu Wing Sheung

See Details

Tribute

Liu Wing Sheung & Fanson Lam

See Details

The Legacy of Time

Liu Wing Sheung & Fanson Lam

See Details

眾裡尋她千百度

邱穎琛 & 吳茂蔚 & 郭斯恆

See Details

Mahjong Wanderlust – Hong Kong Theme

Ricky Cheung & Karen Aruba & Andypoll Chan

See Details

Seek Her in a Thousand Degrees

Brian Kwok & Clive Ng & Kiki Yau

See Details

Restoration of Kai Kee Rooster Neon Sign

Wu Chi Kai & Brian Kwok

See Details

Sternhalma

PAK & KC

See Details

Arise in Gallops

Siu Ping Keung & Ken Chow

See Details

Back to the Future

Fanson Lam & Jacky Lam

See Details

Somewhere in Time

Cecilia Lai & Barnard Chan

See Details

Bon Voyage

Liu Wing Sheung & Fanson Lam & Jacky Lam

See Details

A Blessing

Lui Ming & Inkgo Lam

See Details

Wood Tectonics-The Floral Pairs

Yip Chun Hang & Jesse Hao & Roy Ng

See Details

Hong Kong Mosaic

Linus K & Chow Man

See Details

The Passage

Wong Kin Hung & Jacky Lam

See Details

Club Chair

Jonas Lutz

See Details

Quiver Stool

Jonas Lutz

See Details

Being Together (Sun & Moon)

Vivian Law & Justin Chan & Ken Chow

See Details

Chamber of Time

Siu Ping Keung & Ken Chow

See Details

Wood Tectonics-The Notch

Yip Chun Hang & Jesse Hao & Roy Ng

See Details

The Array of Joints

Ken Chow

See Details

Cabinet with Rattan Baskets

Cecilia Lai & Barnard Chan

See Details

Vice-Versa

Lau Wai Cheong & Ken Chow

See Details

Heliocentrism

Damian Boylan

See Details

Wood Tectonics-The Stack

Yip Chun Hang & Jesse Hao & Roy Ng

See Details

When & While

Kanok Wan

See Details

Symphony of Weaves

Cecilia Lai & Barnard Chan & Ken Chow

See Details

Yuwakashi (kettle)

Takeshi Fujii

See Details

The Wishes of the Return

Liu Wing Sheung

See Details

Craft-ligraphy

Wah Gor & Nathan Wong & Hazel Lee

See Details

Streamline Sake Cups

Yasutaka Oohashi

See Details

Yuwakashi (kettle)

Yasutaka Oohashi

See Details

Swallow Incense Burner

Susumu Yotsukawa

See Details

Round Peacock Incense Burner

Susumu Yotsukawa

See Details

Silver Chrysanthemum Incense Burner

Susumu Yotsukawa

See Details

Guinomi Sake Cup ー Natural & Kurourushi ー WAN/ FUJI/ BAMBOO/ DON

Susumu Yotsukawa

See Details

Whale

Yve Chan

See Details

Kyūsu

Takeshi Fujii

See Details

Hemp Leaf Pattern Tray

Ting For Chun

See Details

Tea Caddy

Takeshi Fujii

See Details

Copper Cooking Pot

Takeshi Fujii

See Details

Yuen

Gamzar & Michael Yu

See Details

Different Angles

Yve Chan

See Details

Mirror

Fanson Lam

See Details

Alembic Copper Still

Luk Shu-Choi and Luk Keung-Choi & Dimple Yuen & Ivan Chang

See Details

The Guardian of Hope

Fanson Lam & Liu Wing Sheung

See Details

Four Seasons

Peter Ng & Luk Shu-Choi and Luk Keung-Choi

See Details

Re-united

Jimmy Hui & Yve Chan

See Details

Sake Cup

Takeshi Fujii

See Details

Flower Vase RAPPA SLIM

Susumu Yotsukawa

See Details

Coffee Drip Pot

Takeshi Fujii

See Details

Off Course

Tamotsu Nishimoto

See Details

Teppachi Morikago

Tamotsu Nishimoto

See Details

Takezaiku Basketry

Tamotsu Nishimoto

See Details

Triangular Tray

Chen Yung Sheng

See Details

Chrysanthemum Patterned Night Light

Chen Yung Sheng

See Details

Boat-shaped Woven Fruit Basket

Chen Yung Sheng

See Details

Moonlight Gardenia

Chen Yung Sheng

See Details

The Dawn of Life – Tangle

Chen Yung Sheng

See Details

Taiwan To Go!

Benjamin Wang

See Details

Tea Leaf Storage Baskets (Tight-plaited and Sparse-plaited)

Benjamin Wang

See Details

Picnic Basket

Benjamin Wang

See Details

Lamp (Fruit Tray, Duck-feeding Bowl, Chicken Cage)

Benjamin Wang

See Details

Copper Teapot with Woven Handle

Ting For Chun & Luk Shu-Choi and Luk Keung-Choi

See Details

Hexagonal Chrysanthemum Pattern Coaster

Ting For Chun

See Details

Coffee Filter

Ting For Chun

See Details

Tea Funnel 

Ting For Chun

See Details

Lantern

Ting For Chun

See Details

Moon Halo

Ting For Chun

See Details

Pavo

Dylan Kwok & Chan Lok Choi

See Details

Reborn Merman

Jinno Neko & Cheung Foon

See Details

Swirly

Lawrence Ting & Tuck Chong Sum Kee

See Details

Emerald Lotus

Luk Shu-Choi and Luk Keung-Choi & Anthony So

See Details

GO OUT with Guangcai

SingChin Lo & Joey Leung & Yuet Tung China Works

See Details

Liberty of the Wind

Lam Duen Shan Ming

See Details

Thousand Knots Qipao

Polly Ho

See Details