Vintage Japanese Tea Ceremony Natsume Phoenix w/ Kiri Box 2 3/4” Rug The handle end is decorated

The handle end is decorated with a bold hexigon shape (traditional shape of protection) while the tapered end is pitted and textured from use

created using the traditional tsutsugaki dyeing technique

An excellent way to set off decorative ceramics like bowls

It is hand thrown and all hand painted in the classic cobalt underglaze

) and as kyokuroku 曲録 chairs by Buddhist abbots for meditation seated cross legged

Vintage Japanese Tea Ceremony Natsume Phoenix w/ Kiri Box 2 3/4” Rug The handle end is decoratedThis 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. This particular lacquer is black and decorated with a red gold Phoenix and cloud motif, this is a beautiful example of Japanese lacquer