Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]
The damask (donsu) fabric of this dashibukusa employs a stylized pine cone motif known as karamatsu (Chinese pine) over which an emblem of stylized wisteria leaves has been embroidered in gold thread. It was presented to Nakatani Sokiku in her...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]
Kobukusa are small, square, silk cloths placed between tea utensils and the hand or floor. They are sometimes used to protect the hands from heat when a non raku-style teabowl (e.g., Hagi, Karatsu, Ido) is chosen for thick tea (koicha) service....
These covered lacquer bowls are generally used for the nimono, or main course of the formal kaiseki meal, though they may also be used for the soup course of the tenshin repast, a lighter, more informal meal. The nimono course, also known as...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Implements, utensils, etc. [lcsh]; Chopsticks [lcsh]
Decorative bronze fire tongs (kazaribashi) of the Buddhist motif, the "pearl of wisdom" (hoju). This type of bronze fire tongs with various shaped finials are an integral part of the utensil setting for a daisu or nagaita utensil stand display.
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.
Used for serving a single fresh moist sweet (namagashi) to a guest, this plate employs a colorful blue motif depicting flower-viewing dumplings (hanami-dango). These skewered, steamed rice dumplings are common during Kyoto's Miyako-odori, a dance...
Used for serving a single fresh moist sweet (namagashi) to a guest, this plate employs a colorful green motif depicting flower-viewing dumplings (hanami-dango). These skewered, steamed rice dumplings are common during Kyoto's Miyako-odori, a dance...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]
Tetsubin are small iron kettles with an integral handle that can be used in a variety of more informal tea procedures. Rather than using a ladle (hishaku) to pour the hot water into the teabowl, the host lifts and pours water directly from the...
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...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]; tea caddies [lcsh]
The 14th generation Urasenke master Tantansai (1893-1964) designed this unlacquered nakatsugi of mulberry wood to be used by students studying the wakin temae. The wakin temae, created by 11th generation Urasanke master Gengensai (1810-1877),...
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 chaire is fashioned in the popular high-shouldered (katatsuki) form with glaze work typical of the Zeze kilns. The shifuku (cover) that accompanies it is fashioned from a satin (donsu) fabric known as Fujitane (a family name), which bears a...
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...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea caddies [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]
Unkin literally means "clouds and brocade." This phrase likens cherry blossoms to clouds and colored maples leaves to brocade. Elements of another much loved motif, hana ikada or flowers drifting downstream on a raft, also appear. Both these motifs...
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...
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]; Drinking vessels [lcsh]
Teabowl (chawan) for thin tea, with a wide and shallow shape that allows the tea to cool more quickly in the summertime. A Chinese bell flower, also called balloon flower or kikkyo, is painted on the bowl. This motif appears from mid-summer into...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Drinking vessels [lcsh]
This chawan incorporates a motif known as pine arabesque (matsu karakusa) that emerges just above the foot of the bowl and continues up and over the lip. It is designed for thin tea. Kyoto ware (Kyo-yaki)
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...
