④MATSUDA Gonroku, Tea caddy, pine and cherry blossom design, maki-e

This tea caddy decorated with pine shoots and cherry blossoms evokes the breath of spring. A tea caddy is a vessel used in the tea ceremony to hold powdered green tea. In Japanese it is known as natsume (lit. “jujube,” a small date-like fruit) due to its similar form, but this work has an unconventional shape, resembling either a nakatsugi (tea container where the lid and body meet near the middle) or a fubuki (slender tea container with a shallower lid than a nakatsugi), but without facets. The elegant piece features pines depicted by layering lacquer over gold and silver foil, then polishing it to create a sense of depth. The cherry blossoms sparkle with inlaid cut shell, while sprinkled pieces of cut silver foil add a delicate shimmer. The design aligns regardless of how the lid is placed, showing careful consideration of the user’s experience.