Tea container, koma type

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    Early 20th century
  • Geography

    Tokyo, Japan
  • Material

    Wood, lacquer
  • Dimension

    H x Diam (tea caddy overall): 7 × 6 cm (2 3/4 × 2 3/8 in)
  • Accession Number

    FSC-L-62a-j
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_FSC-L-62a-j

Object Details

  • Artist

    Watanabe Kisaburo
  • Description

    Red and black lacquered tea caddy (natsume) with brown concentric snake-eye (janome) pattern on convex red lacquered lid.
    a. koma (a spinning top toy) natsume, wood base with red, black, and brown lacquer on exterior, wood color and grain as well as lathe marks visible under clear lacquer on interior, small scratch on interior well of vessel perhaps resulting from the making process
    b. slightly convex lacquered natsume lid, two concentric brown circles over red in snake-eye (janome) pattern on lid's exterior, wood color, grain, and lathe marks visible in interior under a layer of clear lacquer
    c. brown and green silk lattice-patterned storage bag (shifuku) with purple silk interior and purple cord
    d. green cotton cloth for wrapping
    e. strip of white silk cloth for wrapping
    f. paulownia wood storage box, flat tan leather cords, bottom inscribed "Watanabe / Kisaburo" and impressed with maker's seal in relief
    g. paulownia wood storage box lid inscribed "koma natsume"
    h. square paper-covered cardboard with gold edging (shikishi)
    i. green, raw-edged cotton wrapping cloth
    j. wooden kura tag inscribed "Kisaburo / koma natsume"
  • Inscriptions

    Wooden kura tag inscribed "Kisaburo / koma natsume."
  • Collection

    Freer Study Collection
  • Origin

    Tokyo, Japan
  • Credit Line

    The Kinsey Chanoyu Collection, Gift of Gregory Kinsey
  • Type

    Container
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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