This is a delicate series inspired by tulip flowers that sprout in spring.

This series was also the first set of cutlery Hiro Kashihara gave his wife, which inspired him to start his career as an artist.

The deliberately worn-out design gives the table a calming atmosphere just by being there.

With your favorite novel, a cup of hot coffee, and the sunlight streaming in through the window, you might be able to create some relaxing time just for yourself that will make you sigh in relief.

Tableware Specimens

A body of work in which Hiro Kashihara has sealed the time he has spent continuously engaging with his practice.

The intentionally subdued, aged surface evokes the tactile sensation of making and the memory of the first moment when form came into being.

They stand as “traces” — where emotions and stories have quietly settled and solidified.

These are not merely pieces of cutlery, but presences that preserve time like specimens.

Each piece bears a handwritten label noting the title, material, completion date, and signature — information that could only be recorded at that moment. These details serve as evidence of the time embodied in the work.

Even the act of gazing becomes an experience:
a quiet sensing of the artist’s accumulated thoughts, intensity, and the air that once surrounded the making.

Tableware Specimens are works that invite you to trace back through the artist’s time, and to savor the marks left behind.

Each time your eyes rest upon them in daily life, the layers of memory deepen —
Please enjoy these “specimens of time.”

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.