Natsume Makie Chu Natsume - Japanese Tea Container for the Tea Ceremony

A drawn bow and a flying arrow, rendered in fine gold lines on deep red lacquer – this motif of Yumi and Ya, the traditional Japanese bow and arrow, has long stood for singleness of purpose, purity of spirit, and the discipline of Kyudo, the art of archery. On the lid of this Natsume the drawing unfolds in clear, sweeping lines that trace across the curved surface, appearing anew to the viewer depending on the fall of the light.

The deep red tone of the lacquer, verging on chestnut brown, forms a quiet background for the golden-shimmering Maki-e drawing, in which the finest metal powder was sprinkled onto the still-damp lacquer. This technique demands great experience, as every stroke must sit perfectly at once and allows no correction. The evenly rounded shape of the container underscores the classical elegance expected of a fine tea container.

This Natsume comes in a wooden box signed by the master and is suited both as a vessel for matcha in the tea ceremony and as a standalone collector's piece from the Shôwa period, preserving the quiet symbolism of traditional Japanese lacquer art.