Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Typewriter Key Stamps at Etsy.com



We were lucky to come across a case of these "katsuji" (Japanese typewriter "keys"). There are over 2300 of these. They are vintage but have never been used. These would have been the extras in case the ones in the machine broke. Please look at the last picture to see what an old Japanese typewriter looked like. There were at least 2000 keys so needless to say, this was only used in businesses.They are from the "昭和" "showa period" . The "showa" period is from 1926-1989 but these are at least 30 years old as Japanese stopped using them once the word processor was invented.This would be perfect for using as a stamp with ink or for stamping clay etc.It measures 2.3 cm long (long enough to be able to get a nice grip) and 5mm wide. The Chinese character itself is about 5mm wide....so please note how tiny it is. It is made of metal.

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Our Etsy Shops

For handmade & cute food rings http://souzoucreations.etsy.com

For Japanese vintage goods http://vintagefromjapan.etsy.com

For Japanese stickers, fabric, and more http://fromjapanwithlove.etsy.com

For wholesale prices on cabochons, clay canes and morehttp://decosweets.etsy.com


We will combine shipping if you buy from any of our stores.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Kashigata Japanese Wooden Mold Sugar Cake Mold Cookie Mold at Etsy.com




This is a vintage mold called "kashigata". This is a beautiful Japanese vintage wooden sweets mold, sugar cake mold or cookie mold . It is a plum blossom - flower design. Kashigata was also used in the making of wagashi (nama-gashi or freshly made cake and hi-gashi or dried confectionery) for tea ceremonies.

Often made of sakura (cherry wood) and seasoned for about 3 years before carving, kashigata were used to make dried confectionery made of rice flour and sugar called rakugan. Earliest records show that this practice dates back to the mid-17th century. These confections were used as offerings and snacks for celebratory occasions and even unfortunate events. For example when a person died, it was expensive to give flowers or fresh food so, people made these sweets in the form of flowers, fish etc. These items were then placed on the "butsudan" (family shrine found in the house) for the dead person


Common kashigata motifs in the Edo era - chrysanthemums, plum blossoms
Meiji Era - spread of western technology - balloons, planes
World War II - national pride heightened - cherry blossoms, battleships - used as gifts for departing troops, ceremonies and commemorative occasions


With the advent of refrigeration, fresh fish replaced rakugan motifs like the sea bream. Sadly today, making offerings for fortunate and unfortunate events is no longer a common practice. This in turn has lessened rakugan demand although they are still found in tea ceremonies and homes. The decrease in kashigata artisans today has made kashigata carving a dying craft making kashigata itself a sought-after collectible.


The shape is that of a "kamon" which means a family crest (which crest we don't know). There are no set rules in the design of a kamon. It most commonly consists of a roundel encircling a figure of plant, animal, man-made, natural or celestial objects, all abstracted to various degrees. Religious symbols, geometric shapes and kanji were commonly used as well. These symbols are often found in logos of stores (which help to identify what they sell), sushi restaurants, and on packages of food to lend an air of elegance. Senbei (Japanese crackers) and other traditional Japanese sweets may also use one.

*You can use this mold as food mold to cook. Please clean thoroughly before using.



It measures about 18 cm long x 9 cm wide x 4.3 cm tall. 

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Our Etsy Stores:

Supplies FromJapanWithLove.etsy.com
Deco Sweet Supplies DecoSweets.etsy.com
Food Rings SouZouCreations.etsy.com
Vintage VintageFromJapan.etsy.com


We will combine shipping if you buy from any of our stores.

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