A natsume (棗) is one of the most familiar tea caddies used for usucha (thin tea) in the Japanese Way of Tea. A chaire, by contrast, is generally used for koicha (thick tea). Although both hold powdered matcha, natsume come in a wide variety of shapes and decorative designs.
Many natsume are made of lacquered wood. Maki-e (蒔絵) is a traditional Japanese lacquer technique in which gold or silver powder is sprinkled onto designs drawn in lacquer. Even a small tea caddy can become a beautiful expression of the craftsperson’s skill.
My grandfather owned many different containers for usucha, and I particularly remember the natsume decorated with willow motifs. My grandmother preferred waves, my father pine trees, and my mother cranes.
Although they were all natsume, each pattern seemed to reflect the personality and sensibility of the person who chose it. These memories are one of the reasons I find maki-e natsume so appealing.
You do not need to practice the Way of Tea to appreciate a maki-e natsume. Although traditionally made for use in the tearoom, it can also be enjoyed as a small work of Japanese lacquer art. Its form and decoration offer a quiet pleasure of its own.
The photograph shows a work by Kyoto lacquer artist Suzuki Konyu II.
