Koita are used to protect the floor under braziers (furo) made of bronze or ceramic. They also provide a strong visual element that anchors the furo arrangement. Though this koita is lacquered, the pleasing pattern of the wood grain has been...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Drinking vessels [lcsh]; Raku pottery [lcsh]
Raku-style chawan generally feature either red or black glazes. This piece, crafted by Waraku, is an excellent example of the red raku style. Red raku ware (akaraku).
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];
The yoji, a pick for eating moist sweets, is one of the standard items a guest brings to the tearoom. Here, the yoji is sheathed in a slipcase in gold brocade (kinran) fabric decorated with a pattern incorporating plum, tortoise shell, and bamboo...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Implements, utensils, etc. [lcsh]
Ceramic lid rest (futaoki) with stylized pattern of pine trees. Ceramic lid rests are used in conjunction with various types of utensil stands, as they are considered to be more formal than bamboo lid rests.
Charcoal basket (sumitori) made in the style of a charcoal basket owned by Sen Rikyu. This style is known by the name of the original, Aburatake Sumitori. Literally meaning "oiled bamboo," aburatake is an old name for smoked bamboo from which the...
Two small wooden boards (kizue) to be used in specific chabako procedures. The long board is used in the autumnal chabako dedicated to the moon (tsuki) and the single panel is used for the chabako known as wakei.
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Drinking vessels [lcsh]
This style of creating pattern through incising and impressing seals originated in Korea. When brought to Japan, the grid-like patterns reminded the Japanese of a famous calendar produced at a temple in Mishima. The technique and the ware...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Drinking vessels [lcsh]
A teabowl with a simple appeal that will blend harmoniously with other, more decorated utensils. Over years of use, glazes such as this will develop subtle changes that deepen their appeal even further.
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Incense burners and containers [lcsh]
Incense container for the furo season. In the warmer months of the years (traditionally May through October in Japan) the lighter scent of fragrant wood incense, such as sandalwood chips, is thought to be most refreshing. During these months, kogo...
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.
Ceramic vase with ears. Although ceramic vases may be used in either the furo season (May through October when the enclosed brazier is used to heat the kettle) or the ro season (November through April when the sunken hearth is used), the...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Incense burners and containers [lcsh]
Incense case (kogo) in the style of Annam ware. Annam is the archaic Japanese name for Vietnam. Vietnamese blue and white ceramic ware was particularly prized in the tearoom from the late 16th century onward due to the soft and udnefined quality of...
The idea for the design of this basket came from a very old practice of controlling the flow of water in the Kamo River that flows through Kyoto by wrapping large stones in bamboo and placing them strategically. The bamboo tube inside the original...
Japanese tea ceremony [lcsh]; Tobacco jars and boxes [lcsh]; Trays -- Japan [lcsh]
A tobacco tray is used to signify an informal and relaxed atmosphere. While these days tobacco is seldom used in the tearoom, the importance of its signification remains.
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...
