Vintage Japanese Chu-Natsume Wooden Tea Caddy Seashell Motif Mirugai Maki-e w/Box

Gold maki-e chu-natsume with stylized sea shells on black lacquer

Japan, mid–20th century
Dimensions: approx. 3.0″W × 3.1″H (7.6 × 7.9 cm)

This Japanese tea ceremony chu-natsume is finished in deep black lacquer and decorated in gold maki-e with an allover seashell motif. Fan-shaped and rounded shell forms are rendered in fine line work and soft gold tones, interspersed with gently curving stems that unify the design across the lid and body.

Shell imagery is closely associated with refinement, harmony, and poetic elegance in Japanese decorative arts, and appears frequently in tea wares connected to seasonal gatherings and cultured leisure. The balanced spacing and restrained palette give the piece a calm, cohesive presence well suited to use in tea practice.

The lid and body are proportioned in the classic chu-natsume form, slightly taller than a hira-natsume and offering a comfortable hand feel. The interior is smoothly finished for use. The piece is accompanied by its original wooden storage box with calligraphic inscription.

A well-composed example of mid-century Japanese lacquer, suitable for tea ceremony use or for inclusion in a lacquer or tea-wares collection.