Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Drinking vessels [lcsh]
This chawan is a classic example of Zeze ware originating from the Kagero-en kiln. The waisted shape is relatively formal, and the piece has been decorated with an abstract brown, black and yellow glaze typical of the genre. Zeze is known as one of...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Drinking vessels [lcsh]
This chawan is finished with a black Seto glaze that provides a feeling of formality and elegance. The chawan is accompanied by a paulownia box bearing calligraphy that describes its provenance.
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Drinking vessels [lcsh]
This example of Kyoto-style painted pottery bears the tsunagi shippo mon, a motif that makes reference to the seven jewels, a geometric motif that arose from Buddhism. The bowl is suitable for preparing thin tea and, as the pattern is without...
This fukusa is decorated with soft orange, white, and yellow stripes on a pink ground. Just as the fan (sensu) has come to represent the guest, the fukusa serves to signify the host's role in a tea gathering. The informality of decorated fukusa...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]; Tea caddies [lcsh]
This high-shouldered chaire (katatsuki) is housed in a patterned silk cover (shifuku) known as sasazuru donsu, featuring the auspicious pine, bamboo, and plum motif, which symbolizes long life, nobility, and hope. Seto ware (Seto-yaki)
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]
This hishaku is crafted in the traditional pattern for furo season, distinguished by a smaller cup appropriate to the furo kettle, and by an angled cut on the lower surface at the tip of the handle.
This informal kekkai, with its inventive use of the tsubo-tsubo motif, is designed to cohere the space around which tea is made when there are no adjacent walls.
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]; Braziers [lcsh];
This iron kettle (furo) is paired with a particular kettle (kama) as a set. It is crafted in the kimen style, supported by three legs in a tripod formation. The use of iron rather than bronze evokes an informal feeling. An opening at the front and...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]; Tea caddies [lcsh]
This Japanese-made chaire is intended to resemble a highly valued Chinese bunrin or apple-shaped tea caddy. It is paired with a cover (shifuku) of blue and gold sasazuru donsu, bearing the auspicious pine, bamboo, and plum motif which symbolizes...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]; Tea caddies [lcsh]
This middle-sized ( chu) natsume, in the formal (shin-nuri) style, is a classic example of the genre. Here, the natsume is paired with an otsubukuro - a small silk bag shaped like those formerly used for rice from Otsu intended for the imperial...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]; Tea caddies [lcsh]
This natsume features a design of bush clover (hagi) and pampas grass (suzuki) that suggests the autumn season. They are two of the seven autumn grasses. Maki-e.
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]; Tea caddies [lcsh]
This natsume is decorated in the clouds and brocade (unkin or kumonishiki) pattern, depicting cherry blossoms and maple leaves. The design suggests the passing of time, or the ephemeral nature of existence - a quality that takes the motif beyond...
This small red and black kogo was selected for use in chabako temae (outdoor tea procedures). The chabako kogo is used exclusively for the tsuki (moon) chabako, a unique tea procedure which is performed in the autumn. The style and color of this...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]; Tea caddies [lcsh]
This small-sized (ko-hira) natsume was often used by its owner for chabako temae and is decorated with a wild orchid motif. It is very skillfully made, representing many hours of work on the part of the craftsperson. The natsume is accompanied here...
This square ceramic dish is perfectly suited for a serving dish during the kaiseki meal that accompanies a formal tea gathering (chaji). Fashioned in the Oribe style, with its distinctive green glaze and bold designs, it depicts a single flower in...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Trays -- Japan [lcsh];
This square tray with notched corners has multiple functions. It may hold the caddy for thick tea (chaire) in certain temae (tea procedures) or it may be used to serve dry sweets (higaohi) during thin tea. The textured vermillian lacquer surface...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Trays -- Japan [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh];
This square try (yohoubon) is one of a smaller size used when a utensil, such as a thick tea caddy or an incense burner, is to be specially featured in a temae.
This style of tray, known as a hanagatabon or flower-shaped tray, is designed for use in the hana (flower) temae, a chabako tea procedure for the spring season. The red-lacquered edges of this tray suggest stylized petals, and the center of the...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Drinking vessels [lcsh]
This summer bowl for thin tea bears painted motifs typical of the Kyoto pottery kilns laid over a soft white body glaze. The design, with its colorful floral motifs, suggests the movement of seasons.
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]
This unlacquered paulownia box is designed to hold both a ceramic caddy for thick tea (chaire) and lacquered caddy for thick tea (natsume) for the satsubako tea procedure (temae), one of a set of four orally transmitted temae. When a guest...