Showa Retro Pearl Metal Pure Iron Extra Thick Frying Pan 28cm Shirahama Bowl Chinese Ladle

This is a set of a pure iron extra-thick wok and a Chinese ladle manufactured in the Showa era by Pearl Metal, a long-established manufacturer in Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture. This is a rare deadstock item that my grandfather, born in 1916, purchased at the time and has been carefully stored in its box, unused.
The biggest appeal is the rugged durability and authentic craftsmanship unique to Showa-era tools, which are not found in modern cookware. The purple management label 大195 on the pot and the series name Shiragami Ball with its refreshing name evoke the era.
The wok itself is made of pure iron and has a luxurious thickness, as the name extra-thick suggests. It excels in heat conductivity and heat retention, so the temperature does not drop easily even when ingredients are added, allowing you to achieve crispy stir-fries like a professional with home cooking heat.
When the label sticker, which had been attached for many years, was removed, the wok was washed with boiling water and a scrub brush to remove adhesive residue and foreign matter. During this process, a mottled discoloration occurred on the bottom due to the natural reaction of iron. This is a natural phenomenon where unused iron products react to moisture and friction, and it does not affect the quality. Since metal scrubbers were not used, there are no scratches that would damage the iron's surface.
By performing a burning-in process over high heat before use, the oil will adhere to the iron surface, and the wok will develop a black sheen, becoming a lifelong cooking tool. The Chinese ladle in the set is from the Shiragami Ball series and features a white, wavy resin handle that fits comfortably in the hand. The metal part of the ladle also has storage marks, but these will blend with the oil once heated.
It is extremely rare for cast iron to maintain such quality after decades. There is a crack at the base of the ladle's handle due to age-related deterioration, but this is also part of the history this tool has walked.
This is a weighty tool imbued with the craftsmanship of Tsubame-Sanjo, which cannot be experienced in today's mass-produced and mass-consumed era. Please experience the texture of pure iron, which Pearl Metal confidently presented at the time, firsthand.
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