Natsume (Japanese tea caddy) lacquered and gilded, with a Tanabata (Star Festival) design by Jōtarō Gōtō

This natsume (a container for matcha powder used in the Japanese tea ceremony) by Jōtarō Gōtō, a master lacquerer from Yamanaka and a leading figure in Japanese lacquerware, embodies the exquisite refinement of maki-e (gold powder). On a wooden container covered in black roiro (mirror-finish) urushi lacquer, a finely detailed Tanabata (Japanese star festival) decoration unfolds. The contrast between the depth of the black lacquer and the brilliance of the gold, the delicacy of the design, and the subtlety of the raised elements give this piece a rare visual presence, characteristic of the artisan's most accomplished works.

The Artisan
This natsume was created by Jōtarō Gōtō (1942-2014), a highly renowned master lacquerer born in Yamanaka, now part of Kaga City (Ishikawa Prefecture), one of Japan's leading lacquerware regions. Born into a family of lacquerers, he followed a lineage of artisans specializing in maki-e and developed a particularly appreciated body of work in the world of chanoyu (tea ceremony). Recognized as a Dentō Kōgeishi (Japanese Traditional Craftsman) by the Japanese Ministry of Commerce and Industry, he received numerous awards at national exhibitions dedicated to crafts, notably from the Japan Kōgei Association. His natsume, kōgō (incense boxes), and other objects for the tea ceremony, renowned for the quality of their execution and the delicacy of their decorations, are now particularly sought after in the art market.

Decoration and Techniques
The maki-e (gold powder) decoration covers a large part of the natsume's surface, while significant areas of roiro (mirror-finish) black lacquer remain deliberately visible. This interplay between deep black and gold creates a particularly striking contrast, highlighting the elegance of the composition while enhancing the presence of the motifs.

The motifs are constructed using takamaki-e (raised decoration) and hiramaki-e (flat decoration) through successive layers of urushi lacquer, then covered with gold powder. This modeling work, clearly visible throughout the decoration, gives volume to the different elements and accentuates their presence on the black surface, while maintaining the precision and finesse of the design. The richness of the gold dusting, the sharpness of the outlines, and the mastery of the raised elements attest to Jōtarō Gōtō's expertise and the technical rigor that characterizes his works for chanoyu.

The depicted theme is Tanabata, the Japanese Star Festival celebrated annually on the seventh day of the seventh month. According to an ancient legend, the stars Orihime and Hikoboshi, separated by the Milky Way, can only meet one night a year. The decorations hung on bamboo branches, called sasakazari (bamboo ornaments), are evoked here by several traditional emblems of this festival: tanzaku (paper strips on which wishes are written), a fan, a bamboo broom, hanging decorative objects, and stylized bamboo shoots. Together, they express the wishes for success, prosperity, skill, and happiness associated with this celebration.

Both the interior of the natsume and its base are entirely coated with a particularly dense and luminous nashiji (gold flecked background), whose brilliance harmoniously complements the exterior decoration.

Form and Use
This low natsume (hira natsume), whose shape resembles a go stone box, is primarily used in the tea ceremony for koicha, thick tea, in certain schools. Its wide and balanced proportions particularly enhance the unfolding of the decoration.

Presentation
This unique piece dates from the Heisei era (1989-2019). It comes with a tomobako (paulownia wood protective box) fastened with a sanadahimo cord, bearing the artisan's name, his official seal, and the title of the work.

Place of Manufacture
Japan, Yamanaka, Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture

Period
Heisei era (1989-2019)

Dimensions
Diameter 8.4 cm - Height 5.5 cm

Weight
Natsume alone: 104 gr
Natsume with boxes: 242 gr

Materials
Wood, urushi lacquer, maki-e (gold powder)

Condition
Very good condition.