Vintage NATSUME Japanese lacquered tea caddy #5182 for sale

Up for sale is this "Vintage NATSUME Japanese lacquered tea caddy #5182" If you have any questions please contact us before buy it. No reserve.

Width: approx. 6.7cm (2 21⁄32in)
Height: approx. 7.4cm (2 29⁄32in)
Weight: 58g (gross 141g)
Origin: Japan

This natsume (tea caddy) is a vintage piece that combines elegance and timeless beauty. The intricate gold makie (sprinkled gold lacquer) design of arabesque patterns showcases a high level of craftsmanship and traditional Japanese aesthetics. The chrysanthemum motif at the center exudes sophistication and nobility, symbolizing prosperity and longevity in Japanese culture.

The deep luster of the black lacquer contrasts beautifully with the vivid gold makie, captivating the viewer's attention and enhancing its presence in a tea ceremony setting. Its design is versatile, suitable for use throughout the year, but it particularly shines in more formal occasions.

Natsume is a traditional tea caddy made from high-grade wood and decorated with a gold lacquer called Makie. Its name comes from its shape, which is like a jujube (natsume in Japanese). Before the famous artist Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591) used natsume tea caddies in his tea ceremonies, pottery tea caddies were the norm. Natsume was used for daily necessities as pill case or something for townsman. Natsume remains popular with Tea Ceremony masters to the present day.

　Originally, usucha (weak green tea) was called "packed tea" because it was a low-quality tea that was used to fill in the space around bagged koicha (strong green tea) when it was placed in a tea earn. For that reason, from the time of Takeno Joo to the time of Sen no Rikyu, "tea" only referred to koicha. Because usucha was looked down upon, its container was a wooden box called a hikiya, the purpose of which was to store the chaire, koicha tea caddy. In other words, the case originally used for the chaire, koicha tea caddy, was put to another use, eventually being used independently as a usucha tea caddy. Technically, the hikiya for tea containers like nasu (an eggplant-shaped tea caddy) and bunrin (an apple-shaped tea caddy) is called a natsume and the hikiya for katatsuki (a container with protruding parts at the top) is called a nakatsugi, but generally, it is common to refer to both kinds of hikiya as natsume. They are broadly classified as large natsume, medium natsume, and small natsume, and each of these categories is further divided into large, medium, and small.

 

shop policy

Appraisal
We appraise our items using various resources. If you feel that a purchased item differs from your expectations, please inform us. We respect your opinion.

Cancellation and Return
We accept return only if you contact us within 30 days after you receive the items. Return-shipping costs are the buyer’s responsibility. If you ask a cancellation before shipping the package, we may ask a 20% restocking fee.

Shipping
+ Shipping to the USA, Europe, and Asia is free. For other areas, please contact us. Shipping is via EMS or DHL.
+ VAT is not included in the item price.
+ We will ship within 3 business days. Shipping time is usually around a week.

Insurance
We are not responsible for delays, returns, damage or loss due to customs or postal processing. EMS is insured (the amount on the label is the guaranteed amount). If you choose DHL, we recommend that you purchase additional insurance. Please note that if you choose the DHL drop service option, insurance will not be applied.

Taxes
Import duties, taxes and fees are not included in the item price. If your country requires customs duties, etc., it is your responsibility to pay them.

To customers buying tableware
Our products are mostly used. We sell them in the same condition they were purchased, please be sure to clean them thoroughly before actually using them.