kelder bottle

What is a Kelderfles?

"Kelder" means "case" in Dutch

A Kelderfles is a Dutch term meaning "case bottle", derived from the "case" in which they were packed and transported in units of 12. Kelderflessen have square vertical sides, allowing them to be stored snugly in these cases, resulting in excellent transport efficiency and requiring little cushioning material. They were energy-saving bottles from the late medieval to early modern period.

From the 1570s onwards, they were produced as common bottles in the Netherlands, Belgium, and northern Germany. With the global increase in gin consumption from the 1770s onwards, their shape changed from vertical to tapered. The reason for this was that vertical bottles tended to stick when pulled from molds, making them unsuitable for mass production. During this time, Japan was in a period of national isolation. Many Kelderflessen arrived in Japan from the Netherlands, the only country with which Japan had diplomatic relations.
However, today they are rarely seen.

Easily create a sophisticated space with new antique bottles

The irregular undulations of the glass surpass lighting

In the dark, it's a angular, bluish-black bottle, but as soon as light passes through it, it transforms into a captivating blue-green that makes you instinctively reach for your camera.
This bottle, known as a Kelderfles, is also popular as an antique, but oh's Kelderflessen are new products, carefully crafted one by one in a small Japanese factory. Therefore, while they are relatively affordable, each one has a unique, undulating design. The light passing through the bottle creates irregular patterns like a water surface, making it a supreme accent for any interior.
This light, which cannot be created intentionally, is an appeal that stands in stark contrast to designer lighting. But try placing it in front of a light anyway.

Just by placing it there, the atmosphere transforms

The beauty of something that isn't a necessity

Once, at an Italian restaurant, I had water poured from a wine bottle. A plastic pitcher holds more and is more convenient and common. But I remember feeling a little happy about it.
Using a Kelderfles as a water pitcher on your dining table can surprisingly change your mood. It makes you realize that small changes are important for a space. Perhaps it's the beauty of something that isn't a necessity.

Of course, it's also great for enjoying your favorite alcoholic beverages. Very stylish.
And please, try using it with a thin glass sommelier glass. Despite being the same glass, their completely different beauty will complement each other.
Moreover, the "dop-dop-dop" sound when pouring also adds a touch of luxury.

By the way, both the Kelderfles and the cork stopper are new. The cork will loosen with use, so please think of it more as a dust cover than an airtight seal.

Both fresh and dried flowers will look stunning

Blue that further enhances fresh flowers

When it comes to glass bottles, using them as a vase is an indispensable option.
Its small mouth and stable, weighty shape share characteristics with a goblet vase. In spring, small flowers like plum or cherry blossoms, and in autumn, cosmos. In summer, slightly longer branches like spiraea are also nice.

Cool integration with dried flowers

When winter comes and it gets cold, coordinating with dried flowers to create a gentle aesthetic is also wonderful. Thanks to the blue of the bottle, it won't feel lonely. Place it in a bright spot and enjoy it as a vase that makes light your ally.

About the features of the Kelderfles

It is made using traditional techniques with human intervention. Therefore, it may have large bubbles and an uneven surface. Please consider these as unique characteristics, as no two are exactly alike.

Some may have slightly larger bubbles. In fact, that can be part of their charm.


Unusual shaped bubbles may also be present.


There may also be round distortions.


The sides of the bottle may have unevenness resembling the flow of a river.

Daily Photos

A solitary bottle. Even a single bottle with a glass makes a picture.


Perhaps the reason it's so captivating is its soft, living expression, much like a plant.


This shimmer is simply the sea.

A Rediscovery from the Age of Exploration

"A bottle traveling through the Age of Exploration" The encounter between oh and the Kelderfles began with the craft gin brand MAWSIM. The brand's concept stated:

"Age of Rediscovery"
—The new continent, and the pepper plant, were always beside someone from the beginning.
We shall call it "rediscovery" to realize the new value of things that already exist. Now, the Age of Rediscovery begins.

"MAWSIM" means "season" in Arabic. It is the etymology of "monsoon".
Named after the "wind" that carried countless sailing ships seeking spices during the Age of Exploration and delivered Dutch gin to Nagasaki during Japan's period of national isolation.


During Japan's period of national isolation, Dutch ships, whose trade was officially sanctioned, would discard empty gin bottles into the sea while docked in Nagasaki harbor. These bottles were eventually discovered by tea masters and highly prized as flower vases for tea rooms. As a result, many Kelderflessen have been passed down in Japan, stored in paulownia wood boxes. Inspired by this, MAWSIM's gin bottles were designed with the premise that they would be used as carafes or flower vases. They are semi-handcrafted in a small Tokyo factory, so each one has unique characteristics such as undulations, bubbles, and hairline cracks, meaning no two are exactly alike.―

Yes, this bottle was originally designed for MAWSIM's gin.

One day, as I was idly gazing at an empty bottle, a thought crossed my mind: "It looks like it drifted ashore from some sea." Whether it contained gin or not, only someone who has drunk all of it can know how appealing this bottle is as a craft bottle. Meanwhile, the number of people who don't particularly enjoy alcohol is increasing, and I thought that was a bit of a shame.

In that case, I thought that making this handcrafted product, finished one by one, available to everyone visiting oh would be another "rediscovery."
Kenji Wada