Traditional Japanese lacquer, or urushi, is the concentrated sap of the Chinese lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum); this has been used in Japan for thousands of years to coat items ranging from crockery and furniture to buildings. After it dries, lacquer is resistant to both heat and water and therefore provides protection and durability for the materials underneath, which is usually wood, but can also often be bamboo, paper or leather. Lacquerware can be called both urushi and shikki (漆器 literally "urushi vessel"). With the development of acrylic resin in the last century, objects treated with synthetically produced lacquers such as food-grade polyurethane are nowadays also referred to as urushi/shikki. Pure, natural urushi is transparent in its appearance, while the black and red lacquers specifically associated with shikki are achieved by adding mineral pigments, onto which traditional decorative details such as maki-e (蒔絵) "scatter paintings" or raden (螺鈿) "shell inlays" are applied.
Natsume Sansui
Yamanaka
SKU
1031
Yoshi En has recently grown out of Sunday Natural to become an independent premium tea store. As part of this transition, some products may still be shipped in Sunday Natural packaging.
An exquisite ceremonial Natsume matcha caddy coated in black Urushi lacquer and adorned with a golden Sansui (山水) "mountain and water" motif applied using the traditional Maki-e (蒔絵 "sprinkled picture") technique. The Sansui landscape is a major theme in Oriental painting, originating in 5th century China and strongly influenced by Taoist philosophy.
| Product | Natsume matcha container, black and gold |
| Origin | Yamanaka, Ishikawa, Japan |
| Type | Chu-Natsume (medium size) |
| Dimensions | Ø6.2cm x 7cm |
| Material | Japanese horse-chestnut (Aesculus turbinata) |
| Lacquer | Natural Urushi |
| Decoration | Sansui Maki-e |
| Manufacturing | Rokuro-biki (woodturning) |
| Packaging | Kiribako (桐箱 "paulownia box") |
This item is handmade and unique, therefore colour, patterning and dimensions may vary slightly
In stock
Yamanaka Shikki 山中漆器
The small hot spring resort town of Yamanaka Onsen has not only been immortalised in numerous Haiku by the celebrated Japanese poet Bashō, extolling the virtues of its rejuvenating waters – but is also renowned for its rich lacquerware heritage. Nestled amongst the mountains of Ishikawa prefecture, on the northwestern coast of Japan, Yamanaka Onsen’s humid climate is particularly well suited for working with natural Urushi lacquer. The origins of Yamanaka Shikki or lacquerware, can be traced back to around 1580 with the arrival of a group of woodworkers from the nearby city of Echizen who specialised in the art of Rokuro-biki (轆轤挽き) – woodturning: shaping wood on a lathe. The goods they produced were sold as souvenirs to the onsen hot spring tourists and the area soon became known for its fine lacquerware, particularly tea ceremony accessories.
Natsume 棗
During formal Japanese Sadō/Chadō (茶道 “the way of tea”) tea ceremonies, as well as informal Chakai (茶会) tea gatherings, matcha powder is stored in a Natusume tea caddy before it is whipped up into thin Usucha tea in a Matchawan (抹茶椀) tea bowl. Natsume borrows the Japanese name for the jujube red date, which the tea caddy is said to resemble in shape, and are typically made of lacquered wood or bamboo, often adorned with intricate decorations. The Natsume was noted to be a favourite ceremonial utensil of the legendary tea master Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591), and since the Edo period (1603-1868) has been an essential feature of the matcha tea ceremony.
