*SHIPPING OPTIONS VARY DEPENDING ON THE DESTINATION, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS LISTING FOR MORE DETAILS.

This listing is for a pair of hibashi made around 60 years by 51^st generation blacksmith, Myochin Muneyuki.  Hibashi are chopsticks used for handling hot charcoal when using a hibachi (brazier). They are usually longer than regular chopsticks and the more expensive type sometimes have a metal decoration on top. The pair of hibashi in this listing are intended for use during the tea ceremony, and they are made of forged tamahagane steel.  Tamahagane refers to a type of Japanese steel used for making swords, knives and utensils.  Tamahagane steel is made by drying and heating iron sand in a clay tub furnace.  It’s heated to around 1000 degrees and then mixed with charcoal to add carbon.  Carbon allows the steel to harden, and then the clay tub is broken and the steel is removed.  They are signed and come with their original signed wooden storage box.  They also come with a Japanese language profile paper about tamahagane hibashi and the Myochin family.

Myochin Muneyuki belonged to a prestigious family of Himeji ironsmiths spanning 53 generations.  They began making helmets and armour during the Heian period, and the family name ‘Myochin’ was bestowed upon them by Emperor Konoe (1139-1155) sometime during the 12^th century.  Eventually the demand for helmets and armour ended after the abolition of the samurai class in 1876 during the Meiji Restoration.  During this time the family had to find a new path and turned to forging hibashi.  Previous generations had made hibashi for tea master Sen no Rikyu using leftover material from armour making, and their techniques were well documented and able to be revived. The blacksmithing skills of Muneyuki were said to be unsurpassed; the Meiji Emperor paid a visit to the family workshop in Himeji and purchased various utensils on behalf of the Imperial Palace.  During Muneyuki’s lifetime he received many gold and silver medals at various national exhibitions and competitions, and it is said that if you suspend a pair of his hibashi from the attached thread the ends meet and make the sound of bell crickets being carried by the wind.  Muneyuki is also known for his superb quality reticulated lobster ornaments.  **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and CANNOT be used in your own listings.                                             

Sizes

Box:  H.2.5cm (0.9”) x 28.8cm (11.3”) x 3cm (1.1”)

Hibashi:  L.27.5cm (10.8”)                                                                                                       

Condition

They are unused but have some surface rust due to storage during the humid summers here in Japan.                                                                                                                         

THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION                                                                 

**Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia:  NO SHIPPING.  Very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to these countries.  We have no plan to register at this time because the process is in some cases very expensive and complicated, plus each country has its own set of regulations and application process. 

**USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway: Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-28 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Asia:  Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-21 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Central Asia, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico:  EMS Express 10-15 days.

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.