| Name | Natsume 棗 (“jujube”) |
|---|---|
| Sizes | Large (ō-natsume), medium, small |
| Finishes | Plain black shin-nuri, tame-nuri, maki-e gold designs, mother-of-pearl |
The natsume is a Japanese invention, attributed to the Muromachi-era lacquerer Haneda Gorō. Against the ceramic chaire used for thick tea, the light lacquered natsume became the standard container for thin tea.
From Rikyū’s preferred plain black to later caddies painted with the four seasons in gold maki-e, the palm-sized vessel concentrates the essence of Japanese lacquer craft.
Rest it on the left palm and purify the lid with the fukusa in the prescribed strokes.
Mound the matcha softly like a small mountain; sift it just before use.
Never wash with water. Wipe with a soft dry cloth and store in its wooden box.
Look for cracks, flaking and dulling. Sun-fading cannot be reversed.
A fine caddy’s lid settles with a gentle sigh. Rattling or looseness is a warning.
Gold designs wear with use — zoom in on photos to confirm the outlines survive.
A signed box, and origins such as Wajima or Yamanaka, guide the price.
Pieces of this kind held in the gallery will appear here.
