Vintage Japanese Tea Ceremony Natsume Black Lacquer Cherry Blossoms 3" Music and latches and corner work

and latches and corner work are made of forged iron with a protective coat of burnt lacquer

It measures 5" in diameter by 4" tall (10 cm)

supporting the elbow and forearm while reading

It would have been used to serve tea or small appetizers

Height = 10"

Vintage Japanese Tea Ceremony Natsume Black Lacquer Cherry Blossoms 3" Music and latches and corner workThis is a vintage Japanese chu natsume or tea caddy used in the chanoyu tea ceremony. It holds the 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 the traditional Japanese method with over 20 coats of urushi lacquer. Beautifully decorated in traditional motifs. Having been only very sparingly and lovingly used for decades this natsume remains in fine