Vintage Japanese Tea Ceremony Natsume Tea Caddy Red Lacquer Crane & Pine Tree Chadansu The hand crafted decorations are

The hand crafted decorations are of wisteria in various shades of purple and a bluebird on an exquisite turquoise blue background

A beautiful limited edition printed created by the artist Caroline Young in the 1990's titled "Beauty Unfolding Innocence"

Signed on the base of the blade front and back by the Japanese master blade maker over 100 years ago

It comes in the original wood storage box which has protected it over the years

They are heavy and stay at the bottom of a water filled vase

Vintage Japanese Tea Ceremony Natsume Tea Caddy Red Lacquer Crane & Pine Tree Chadansu The hand crafted decorations areThis is a vintage Japanese natsume or tea caddy used in the chanoyu tea ceremony. It is used to hold 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 red and painted with fine black lacquer details. This is a beautiful example of Japanese design style. Having been only very sparingly and lovingly used for decades this natsume remains in fine condition.