Japanese Natsume Tea Caddy Red & Black Lacquer 2.5" Lacquer foliage and a guardian figure

foliage and a guardian figure flank the entrance

who wore a brass helmet with a high central crest similar to that worn by dragoon cavalry

minor glaze inclusions and firing marks typical of hand-crafted Edo ceramics

Medium: Copper alloy with gilt relief

There are no tagane ato around the nakago nor sekigane it was most likely affixed to a short sword

Japanese Natsume Tea Caddy Red & Black Lacquer 2.5" Lacquer foliage and a guardian figureThis 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. Beautifully decorated in traditional motifs. Having been only very sparingly and lovingly used for decades this natsume remains in fine