Digital Collections

- Incense container (kogo) for chabako
- 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...
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Tea caddy for thin tea with cherry, maple, and flowing water motif
- 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...
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Tea caddy for thick tea or thin tea in formal style
- 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...
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Tea caddy for thin tea with koma design
- Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]; Tea caddies [lcsh]
- The distinctive koma design used for this natsume is of Southeast Asian origin. The design has a long history of use in Japan. The Japanese name for the pattern likens it to a spinning top.
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Tea caddy for thin tea with autumnal design
- 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.
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Tea caddy for thin tea with cherry and maple design
- 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...
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Tea caddy for thin tea with wild orchid design
- 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...
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Tea caddy for thin tea
- Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tea making paraphernalia [lcsh]; Tea caddies [lcsh]
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection
- Tea box
- 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...
- Sokiku Nakatani Japanese Teaware Collection