I always enjoy watching Matcha Tea Scoops belonged to famous tea masters such as Sen no Rikyu, Kobori Enshu, and Furuta Oribe at art museums. Tea people and craftsmen sometimes give SHIBUI names to tea scoops based on characteristic features like cracks, holes or grooves.
I had the opportunity to see a tea scoop made by Sen no Rikyu in the temple collection, the other day.
The temple, Shokoku-ji is a famous Zen temple built by Yoshimitsu Ashikaga.
It is deeply connected to tea culture.
Anyway, Oda Nobunaga held a tea ceremony at the temple, and it is said that Sen no Rikyu was in attendance.
According to the temple, when the high priest of the temple passed away, the temple held a one of largest tea ceremonies and many tea masters gathered there including Sen no Rikyu.
They brought their own tea utensils to serve tea and they donated all to the temple after the tea ceremony.
The tea scoop was donated by Sen no Rikyu.
It was a small but elegant, dignified and delicate. His signature on the tube and box was also elegant.
Shokoku-ji
Imadegawa-dori, Karasuma Higashi-iru Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-0898 Japan
