Japanese Tea Ceremony Natsume Natural Cherry Bark Tea Jar Bamboo Carving 6.25” Chinese fretwork and mesh panels appear

fretwork and mesh panels appear intact

While the swordsmith (katanakaji) forges the blade

The silk ground is smooth and well-handled

this subject — the aviator (飛行士

money and other precious items it is made throughout of solid Sugi wood (cryptomeria)

Japanese Tea Ceremony Natsume Natural Cherry Bark Tea Jar Bamboo Carving 6.25” Chinese fretwork and mesh panels appearThis is a vintage Japanese chu natsume or tea caddy used in the chanoyu tea ceremony. It holds the powdered green tea called matcha. This is made in the Kabazaiku () fashion from peeled cherry bark than bent with a single seam with origins among the samurai class of northern Japan in the mid Edo era. Having been only very sparingly and lovingly used for decades this natsume remains in fine condition. The tea caddy is a simple cylinder shape and a