Erik's Chopsticks Gallery (September, 1998)

September, 1998 Acquisitions
San Francisco, CA (Again!)

Last Updated 1998-10-08

This month found me on business in Monterey, California, with 900+ fellow database 'geeks' at the 3rd annual FileMaker Developer Conference. (no other chopstick collectors that I know of, but at risk of violating the nondisclosure agreement, I will relay that one FileMaker, Inc. programmer's Barbie™ collection was featured). Look for my August-September, 1999 acquisitions in Monterey, California (here we go again)!
Anyway, I arranged to arrive two days early, to save on airfare with a 'Saturday stay-over.' The drive up the coast between Monterey and San Francisco was phenomenal. Gorgeous wave-washed cliffs, luxuriously thick fog at 'time-lapse' speeds, and winding mountain roads.
During the one full day in SF, I 'ate my way across town!' - Starting with breakfast in North Beach (Italian bread, fresh mozzarella, San Pelligrino™ limonata). Brunch in Chinatown. Been there, done that, but I'm still fascinated to watch this crowded mini-metropolis on market day. Lunch was a long, rewarding walk over to Japan Center, and consisted of sushi and sake, of course! This was one of those places where the sushi chefs prepare the food in a center island surrounded entirely by a 'moat' filled with circulating water. They put the sushi on little trays, which you pick up as they float by on a n endless loop of miniature boats. At the end of this ala-carte meal, they just tally-up the little trays by color/price. I had a delightful conversation with some folks from just outside SF. A terrible shame I couldn't bring my wife! - We'll try to go together next year, for sure!
Needless to say, between Chinatown and my new discovery of Japan Center (Picture of the Peace Pagoda, below), I came home with a ton o' loot! So much for putting myself on a budget. Oh, hang it all!

Teak and Stone Chopsticks

[cstixsf005 - 1998/08/29] Material: Teak wood and pink stone (coral?). Description: Round, slightly flattened with rich glossy finish. The joints between the teak and stone and stone segments are exquisitely smooth. Length: 24.5 cm. Nationality: Unknown (Japanese?). Source: San Francisco, CA.

Jade Chopsticks

[cstixsf006 - 1998/08/29] Material: Jade stone, opaque, mostly light green. Description: Traditional blunt round tip, square and blunt at opposite end. Mixed black, white and light green stone. Includes paper-covered cardboard box. Length: 22 cm. Nationality: Chinese. Source: San Francisco, CA.

Wood Chopsticks w. Case

[cstixsf007 - 1998/08/29] Material: Wood. Description: Matching chopsticks and case of dark reddish-brown stain. Traditional blunt round tip, square and pointed at opposite end. Box has removable sliding lid. Both are inscribed with etched Chinese characters in gold. Length: 25 cm. Box: 27 x 2 x 2.5 cm. Nationality: Chinese. Source: San Francisco, CA.

Japanese Tea Ceremony Chopsticks

[cstixsf008 - 1998/08/29] Material: 'Black' bamboo. Description: Sharp-edged, flat rectangular and tapered to tip and at opposite end. Unfinished, with the dark brown natural bamboo bark remaining on one side. Women's size, used for Japanese tea ceremonies. Length: 18 cm. Nationality: Japanese. Source: San Francisco, CA.

Rug, Hare and Rock Package Chopstick Rests (Hashi Oki)

[restsf001 - 1998/08/29] Material: Glazed ceramic clay. Description: Looks like a small rolled-up rug. Textured, with a dark green glaze. Length: 6.5 cm. Nationality: Japanese; Made in Japan.
[restsf002 - 1998/08/29] Material: Glazed porcelain. Description: Form of a hare or rabbit. Tan glaze is a crushed composite of white to dark brown glazes. Ears and eyes are light brown glaze. Length: 4.5 cm. Nationality: Japanese (Made in Japan by Kotobuki).
[restsf003 - 1998/08/29] Material: Cane, quartz and other stone. Description: The form is a diminutive representation of this unique (contemporary?) Japanese packaging technique. Four small white quartz pebbles and one reddish-brown pebble are securely wrapped in a single thin strand of natural cane. No fasteners or glue is used. Length: 6 cm. Nationality: Japanese.
Source: San Francisco, CA.

Brown Notched Chopsticks

[cstixsf009 - 1998/08/29] Material: Wood. Description: Tapered and rounded; stained light brown with darker areas at each set of 'wavy' notches along the opposite end. Length: 22.5 cm. Nationality: Japanese (Made in Japan). Source: San Francisco, CA.

Opposing Green Band Chopsticks

[cstixsf010 - 1998/08/29] Material: Wood. Description: Tapered and rounded; stained dark green with textured rings at the tip; thick avocado green band near the opposite end, outlined in rings of gold (matching band pattern is reversed, rather than mirrored). Length: 23 cm. Nationality: Japanese (Made in Japan). Source: San Francisco, CA.

Pair of Black / White Chopstick Rests (Hashi Oki)

[restsf003 - 1998/08/29] Material: Porcelain. Description: Simple, undecorated form. One each of gloss black and white. Length: 6 cm. Nationality: Japanese (Made in Japan). Source: San Francisco, CA.

Squid Chopstick Rest (Hashi Oki)

[restsf004 - 1998/08/29] Material: Ceramic (Porcelain?) Description: Form of a squid, with blue detailing. Length: 7.5 cm. Nationality: Japanese (Made in Japan). Source: San Francisco, CA.

Brass Brazier Chopsticks

[cstixsf014 - 1998/08/29] Material: Brass. Description: Long, slender, but lightweight; tapered only near the tip, with a counter weight attached to the opposite end. No decoration, but an area of knurled texture for grip near the counterweight. Length: 25.5 cm. Nationality: Japanese. Source: San Francisco, CA.

Cherry Wood Chopsticks w. Rest (Hashi Oki)- Click image to see detail.

[cstixsf011 - 1998/08/29] Material: Cherry Wood. Description: Square, tapered; light brown wood with wide band of darker cherry bark veneer near the opposite end. Matching rest is completely sheathed in cherry bark veneer. Lovely! Length: 22.5 cm; Rest: 7 cm. Nationality: Japanese. Source: San Francisco, CA.

Easy Chopsticks™

[cstixsf012 - 1998/08/29] Material: Plastic. Description: Yet another 'innovative' design for the chopstick-impaired: Easy Chopsticks are a one-piece molded ivory-color plastic with a springy 'bridge' in the form of two koi (goldfish carp) fish attached at the tails. A textured area added to the tip for better grip. This is one of at least two other similar Easy Chopsticks with different decorations. Length: 25.5 cm. Source: San Francisco, CA. Made in Canada.

Cooking Skewer Chopsticks

[cstixsf013 - 1998/08/29] Material: Metal and plastic. Description: Long, chrome-plated metal wire skewer type chopsticks used for cooking (such as tempura, noodles, etc.) Roughened area at the tip. Black plastic molded handles. Length: 30 cm. Source: San Francisco, CA. Made in Japan.

Embossed with Gold Waribashi Wrapper

[waribashisf001 - 1998/08/29] Description: Folded paper with orange color in lining. Embossed with Japanese characters in gold and with uncolored floral design. Length: 30 cm. Source: San Francisco, CA. Made in Japan.

Several Chopstick Rests (Hashi Oki)

[restsf005-009 - 1998/08/29] Descriptions:
Metal red Fish [restsf004, 5.5 cm] (could also be a paperweight)
Porcelain orange King Crab [restsf005, 7 cm]
Blue Blowfish [restsf006, 5 cm]
Peach painted resting Hare (Rabbit) [restsf007, 4.5 cm]
Light green block [restsf008, 5 cm].
Source: San Francisco, CA. (All?) Made in Japan.

Back in Boston...

Ebony & Inlay Vietnamese Chopsticks

[cstix19980925a - 1998/09/25] Material: Ebony Wood, Mother of Pearl. Description: Round at tip, square at opposite end with two sides inlaid w. mother of pearl. Hand carved and hand cut inlay. Length: 27 cm. Nationality: Vietnamese; Chinese style. Source: Cambridge, MA. Mde in Vietnam.

Plain Wood Chinese Chopsticks

[cstix19980918a - 1998/09/18] Material: Wood. Description: Round at tip, square at opposite end with embossed red lettering on one side. Length: 20.5 cm. Nationality: Chinese. Source: Boston, MA. Made in China.

Ebony Chopsticks

[cstix19980925b - 1991/09/25] Material: Ebony Wood. Description: Elegant rounded square taper throughout to pointed tip. Opposite end has sharp taper on two sides. Length: 23.5 cm. Nationality: Japanese (Made in Japan). Source: Cambridge, MA.

Several Chopstick Rests (Hashi Oki)

[rests19980925abc - 1998/09/25] Descriptions (all porcelain):
Yellow Fish [rest19980925a, 6.5 cm]
Green and white Fish [rest19980925b, 6 cm]
Blue Flower and brown Twig [rest19980925c, 6 cm]
Nationality: Japanese. Source: Cambridge, MA.

Several Chopstick Rests (Hashi Oki)

[rests19980922abcd - 1998/09/22] Descriptions (all porcelain):
Red Beet / Radish / Turnip [rests19980922a, 6 cm]
White Daikon radish [rests19980922b, 7 cm]
Blue Egglpant [rests19980922c, 6 cm]
Blue and White Fish [rests19980922c, 8 cm, Made in Japan]
Nationality: Chinese?. Source: Boston, MA.

Korean Place Setting ("Kitchen Line" Brand)

[cstix19980919a - 1998/09/19] Material: Chrome plated metal. Description: Matching pattern chopsticks and soup spoon. Chopsticks are thin, flat and light weight . Length: 21 cm. Nationality: Korean. Source: Allston, MA. Made in Korea.

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September, 1998 Acquisitions San Francisco, CA (Again!)

Last Updated 1998-10-08

September, 1998 Acquisitions
San Francisco, CA (Again!)