A Box of Vintage Special Ikeda or Chrysanthemum Charcoal: Tea Ceremony

mid twentieth century
box size: 7 1/2" x 6 1/4" x 2 1/2", 19 cm x 16 cm x 6.5 cm

This is a box of old kikuzumi or so-called chrysanthemum charcoal, a high-quality, hand made charcoal that is notable because of its beautiful, chrysanthemum-like ends and also for that fact that it burns very clean and does not produce smoke.

Once the charcoal has been thoroughly used and burnt it turns an ashy white color, thereby leaving the remains of what appear to be a white chrysanthemum.

The charcoal is also called Ikeda charcoal for its place of origin. It is made of a kind of oak tree.

A wonderful set of old charcoal, nicely packaged.