Japanese Tea Ceremony Natsume Black Lacquer Gold Makie plum flowers & leaves 3” Funadansu Associated components visible include chain

Associated components visible include chain mail guards and leather elements

It is finished in the original dark lacquer made up of over 10 coats of tinted urushi lacquer that has worn through in areas and the heavy patina from the centuries is clearly visible

This is a 150 year old antique Japanese suzuribako from the late Meiji Era (c

the foot ring banded in orange

Japanese Tea Ceremony Natsume Black Lacquer Gold Makie plum flowers & leaves 3” Funadansu Associated components visible include chainThis is a vintage Japanese chu natsume or tea caddy used in the chanoyu tea ceremony. It holds the powdered green tea called matcha. A quality natsume such as this is made of turn wood, typically hinoki or Japanese cypress. The wood is lacquered in the traditional Japanese method with over 20 coats of urushi lacquer. Beautifully decorated in traditional motifs. Having been only very sparingly and lovingly used for decades this natsume remains in fine