This black lacquer natsume is decorated with hand-painted autumn maple leaves (紅葉 - momiji) in orange and red. The inside of the natsume is finished in a silver nashi-ji (梨地) pattern: a style of lacquer finish which employs dappled gold powder to produce a 'pear-like' texture. 

The natsume is made from urushi lacquer over a wood powder and resin core and was crafted by Kurokawa Seihou (黒川清峰).

Usuchaki (薄茶器 - thin tea vessel) are wooden or lacquered wood containers used to store and present the matcha used for making usucha (薄茶 - thin tea). Of these, the natsume (棗 - chinese date/jujube) style is the most common, and often usuchaki are referred to generally as natsume. Traditionally, natsume are made from turned wood and covered with urushi lacquer, though today cheaper plastic and resin options are commonly used for practice. The most formal or shin natsume are undecorated black lacquer, while red, vermillion, decorated, or unlacquered natsume are slightly more informal.  

Because most natsume are not airtight, they are not suitable for long term storage and are only intended for presentation and heightening the tea making experience.

Dimensions:

6.7cm (2.6in) - width
6.7cm (2.6in) - height

Condition: New

This Japanese item ships from the United States.