New Old Stock (1960s) Ohira tomae. The ink stamps read on the upper right: Ohira-Kozan (Ohira Mine), Awase Toishi (Awase stone). In the midsection within a rectangular box: Ippon-sen (selected choice item). At the lower right in a box is: Sanju-gata (30 size).
30 size as I describe in my book is a reference to an average adult male can carry 30 pieces of this size stone from the mine entrance to the valley floor work shop.
This is a perfect example of a tomae: homogenous, thick & heavy, workhorse fast cutting, and excellent shape. The last generation of the Ohira mine was dug nearer the valley floor where the sediment was thicker and more compact. Famous for their red renge patterns, they were also well known for their uchigumori and homogeneous larger tomae stones like this one which is perfectly trimmed with all corners and edges.
Please take note here. This tomae is not a kiita yellow stone, but more of a buff color.
Grade #30 (30 size) 206x76x36mm thick. 1418grams (3lb4oz)
Level 3- hardness (it will absorb water)
#800 Ohira tomae large bench stone
All of my stones are sold with a money-back guarantee minus the return shipping if within 30 days of the sale and returned in their original state. Please do not lacquer the stone if you have any intention of returning it.
I encourage sealing the sides of all sedimentary stones, especially if there a inclusions, cracks, or fissures and or if the stone is used in an active workshop where the stone is constantly wet. For casual use, sealing, especially all four sides, and preferably the back with one of either a marine type of spar varnish, a synthetic lacquer, urushi, or a cashew-derived lacquer is prudent.