This mid century brass Ikebana kenzan flower frog bowl, dating approximately from the 1950s to 1970s, combines a shallow brass vessel with a dense metal pin bed for traditional Japanese style floral arranging.
The compact 3 1/2 inch round form works as a stand alone low flower holder or can be placed inside a larger decorative bowl.
Stems are pressed directly onto the closely spaced pins, allowing branches and flowers to be positioned at deliberate angles while the surrounding cup holds a shallow amount of water.
Details
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Item: brass Ikebana flower frog bowl
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Item Type: kenzan pin flower holder
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Era: approximately 1950s to 1970s
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Materials: brass bowl with metal pin bed and silver tone metal base
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Color: warm brass gold with dark metal pins
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Maker and Mark: no visible maker's mark
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Pattern or Model: not confirmed from photos
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Style: mid century, Japanese inspired Ikebana floral design
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Dimensions: approximately 3 1/2 inches round and 1 1/2 inches tall
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Special Features: dense pointed kenzan pin bed contained inside a shallow water holding bowl
Condition Grade: Good
Positives
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Graded Good: Complete and usable with noticeable cosmetic wear from previous use.
- The circular brass bowl remains intact, and the dense interior pin bed is present across the arranging surface.
- The rim appears intact without visible splits or major deformation.
- The compact weighted construction gives the piece a stable base for arranging stems and branches.
Issues / Wear
- The brass exterior shows scattered spotting, scratches, rubbed areas, and surface marks visible in the photos.
- The interior pins show darkening and discoloration from age and previous floral use.
- The silver tone underside has scattered spotting, discoloration, scratches, and general surface wear.
Condition Grade Key
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Near Fine: Almost perfect. Very minor signs of age only.
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Very Good: Shows light use. Sound and attractive with minor flaws.
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Good: Complete and intact. Noticeable wear consistent with age and use.
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Fair: Shows significant wear. Readable or usable but clearly used.
Collector's Notes
Kenzan, often translated as sword mountain, became an essential tool for holding stems securely in Japanese Ikebana arrangements. This built in bowl form combines the pin holder and water reservoir in one compact piece.
Its low profile suits anyone interested in Ikebana, minimalist flower arranging, mid century floral accessories, or vintage tools that can still be put to work.
This example has an unusually dense field of pins inside its 3 1/2 inch brass bowl. That gives an arranger many possible stem positions within a very small footprint.
The visible scratches and spotting leave its history intact while still allowing the piece to return to the purpose it was made for.
