Last year I brought back from Japan two metal cups.
They are like Bodum glass cups, with a vacuum in an inner layer so the outside is room temperature while inside of the cup with fluid is another.
Except these two cups are made of hand pounded titanium. Light, rust proof and beautiful.
This year I brought home a trivet. I’ll use it for serving bagels and scones. Simple design, again rust proof and elegant.
This time the object is made of pure cast tin. That makes it malleable. It feels wonderful and can change shape. I love it.
What is it about the Japanese that says to look at any object with new eyes. To see the essence of an object, especially metal? Could it be a millennium of Zen?