Functional tinware makes an elegant addition
TOKYO - An elegantly curved wineglass, a slender champagne flute and a standard beer tumbler - imagine these drinking vessels made not of glass, but of tin. Tinware, which glistens softly due to the slightly uneven texture of the cast surface, gives a refreshingly cool and dazzling impression.
Tin is said to be the most expensive household metal after gold and silver. Tinware in a shade of silver white can create a chic and elegant atmosphere. Used at the dinner table or as home decor, objects made from the metal provide a combination of beauty and functionality.
"If someone is discovering tinware for the first time, I recommend starting with a cup," said Katsuji Nosaku, president of Nousaku Corp. Based in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, Japan, the company specializes in casting copper, brass and tin.
Tin is believed to have been used for vessels to drink sake at the Imperial court in the Heian period (794-1192). Through the ages, tin has been used to add a finishing touch to the experience of sake. "Tin is said to mellow the flavor of food," Nosaku said. "You can tell the difference in taste even with water."
The metal is also characterized by its high heat conductivity. If you pour chilled sake into a tin cup, you can better gauge its temperature in your hand as you lift the cup, and you will experience the same coldness on your lips when you take a sip. As a result, serving sake in a tin cup adds a refreshing coolness to its enjoyment.
"If you plan to drink beer from a tin tumbler, I recommend putting the tumbler in the refrigerator before you use it," Nosaku said. Left in the fridge just for one minute, a tin cup can be rapidly cooled to help you enjoy ice-cold beer. Furthermore, the surface of a tin glass is rough with minute irregularities created during manufacturing processes. When beer comes into contact with such a texture, the head becomes finer, Nosaku says.
Yet at the same time, tin is malleable. "One hundred percent pure tin is ductile enough to be sculpted by hand," said Nosaku. Tin is also a metal that can be comfortably worn against the skin, he added.
Due to tin's flexibility, square or flower-shaped mesh plates can also be manufactured. Products in the company's "flexible wares" series can be bent into the shape of boxes or baskets by simply bending their rims by hand. The plates can be customized to accommodate various uses, such as holding fruit or other objects. Openings in the mesh can also be expanded to fit a bottle of wine. Alternately, the mesh plates can be hung upside-down from the ceiling as lamp shades.
Tin can accentuate a dining table, too.
"Japanese food culture has been diversified through Western and Chinese cuisine, making it easier to introduce tin tableware to our dining table," Nosaku said. Prices of tin cutlery rests for chopsticks, knives and forks start at about 1,000 yen (about $8.50) each.
Gold-plated tinware is popular for festive occasions or as gifts. The color contrast between gold and tin is beautiful and offers a luxurious atmosphere. Tin is a rust-resistant metal, making it popular for flower vases, too.
"Tinware manufactured with sophisticated techniques is highly praised overseas," Nosaku said. "I hope many people use the items in their day-to-day lives."
In Japan, there are also tinware manufacturers in Osaka and Kagoshima prefectures. The wares can be found at department stores and shops selling traditional crafts.
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Tips for better shine
Tin is resistant to rust and corrosion, so care and cleaning is easy.
"For everyday care, it is enough to wash tinware with a neutral detergent using a soft sponge," Nosaku said.
But after years of frequent use, the shine of tinware can become muted, and the color can gradually change in a subtle way, according to Nosaku. In such cases, it is possible to regain the original shine by gently polishing objects with baking soda using a melamine sponge.
As tin is a soft metal, it is important to take care not to drop tinware or apply excessive force with a knife or fork.