Japanese Tea Ceremony Natsume Fishing Nets Drying in Gold Makie w/Box 4”

This is a vintage Japanese chu-natsume or tea caddy used in the chanoyu tea ceremony. It holds the powdered green tea called matcha. A quality natsume such as this is made of turn wood, typically hinoki or Japanese cypress. The wood is lacquered in the traditional Japanese method with over 20 coats of urushi lacquer. This particular lacquer is beige and decorated with fishing nets drying out on sticks, (as fishermen once did on beaches after a days catch in Japa), in gold makie. The kiri wood box included is signed by the maker and titled.

Having been only very sparingly and lovingly used for decades, even with the slightly discolored patch and chipped lacquer on the rim, this natsume remains in fine condition. The tea caddy is a simple cylinder shape and a normal size for natsume measuring approximately 2 3/4" tall by 2 1/2" in diameter (7 x 6.25 cm). A very elegant and functional piece of art to hold your favorite tea or some other treasures.