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 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]
The use of bentwood (magemono) for this finely crafted mizusashi is understood to embody a "fading to nothing" - the notion that the container is effectively invisible. Magemono mizusashi are used with utensils of Chinese origin or Japanese wares...
Chopsticks such as these are typically offered with a serving dish, providing a means for guests to transfer the food to their bowls during the formal kaiseki meal. The chopsticks are usually soaked in water beforehand to prevent foods from...
Individual serving dishes used to serve moist sweets, or "omogashi." The plum blossom design may designate that they are intended to be used in January or February. However, the plum motif also has auspicious connotations so they could be used on...
