Metal Botanical Specimens | Twig object (brass)

The twig objects are reminiscent of familiar plants, but they are not copies of actual seeds. They are the fruit of the artist's imagination, inspired by memories of new shoots and branches left over from winter, and made to "re-sprout" the plants in his mind using a different material, metal.

These twigs are made from a single metal plate using a single-cut technique, ensuring the beginning and end are connected. The continuous, circular cut is a design that gently wishes the person who receives it happiness, as if the bond continues in a circle.

Although not flashy, it has a presence that makes you feel as if you are breathing more deeply when you place it nearby. Whether you display it in your living room or on your dining table, it will create a quiet story in the space. Please enjoy these works, imbued with the imagination and prayers of Kashihara Hiro.

Metal Botanical Specimens

Metal Botanical Specimens are works imagined by cutlery artist Hiro Kashihara—plants that once grew on some distant, unknown planet, preserved here as specimens.

The plants of this world differ from the soft stems and leaves we know. They appear as if metal itself had slowly sprouted, branched, and taken form. Existing somewhere between life and the inorganic, they possess a quiet strangeness—a world in which the very outline of the word “plant” begins to blur.

Within each piece, glimpses of familiar botanical forms seem to surface and recede. Yet these are not representations of any existing species. They are shapes born from scenes and memories that took root within the artist—plants that might have existed. Neither purely realistic nor entirely abstract, their forms leave generous space for the viewer’s imagination to wander freely.

There is also a small, hidden gesture in the characters used to write “Botanical Specimens” on the label band.

The character usually read as “plant” is typically composed of the elements “tree” and “upright.” Here, however, it is intentionally written using “metal” in place of “tree.”

Neither entirely plant nor entirely not, and carrying a sense of life within metal itself—this quiet contradiction is gently indicated by the character’s form.

Artist

Hiro Kashihara

I create small supporting characters that quietly hold up the beauty and deliciousness of the table.

My journey into cutlery making began when my wife, who loves cooking, collected beautiful tableware and cutlery. Wanting to create moments that would make her happy and to offer her beautiful tea times, I began making cutlery myself.

Since 2020, I have been working as a cutlery artist, developing a style based on the concept of “Spoon You Nurture,” using materials such as brass and nickel silver that enhance the enjoyment of aging over time.

Today, I see cutlery as a canvas, creating new works by distilling scenes and moments I find beautiful into simple forms.

The Appeal of Brass

Brass is a material traditionally used in antique tableware.
It is an alloy of copper and zinc, and typically possesses a beautiful golden luster.

In Hiro Kashihara’s work, the surface is heat-treated to create a distinctive matte, amber-toned finish. This process produces subtle shadows and depth, allowing the material’s quiet character to emerge.

The artist handcrafts each piece.
There may be differences in texture, color, shape, and size between the photograph and the piece you receive, but we hope you will enjoy each piece's unique character.