“Lacquer Matcha Container – Natsume”
Just as there are many kinds of containers for thick tea (Chaire), the utensils used for thin tea are equally varied. Among them, the “natsume” is perhaps the most familiar. It is not only a practical tea utensil, but also one that brings quiet visual pleasure.
My grandfather owned many different thin-tea containers, and I particularly remember those decorated with willow motifs. My grandmother preferred waves, my father pine trees, and my mother cranes. Although they were all “natsume”, each design reflected the personality and sensibility of its owner. This personal connection is one of the things that makes “maki-e” so appealing.
If you enjoy lacquerware, you do not need to be a tea practitioner to appreciate a “maki-e natsume”. Originally made for the tea room, it can also be enjoyed as an interior object. Simply having one in your space adds a sense of depth and calm, offering a quiet glimpse into the Japanese sense of beauty.
The photograph shows a work by Kyo lacquer artist Suzuki Konyu II.
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