Natsume (Japanese tea caddy) in lacquer, bark, and maki-e, with a yozakura (night cherry blossoms) decoration by Kashō Yoshita

This natsume (a container for matcha powder used in the Japanese tea ceremony) by Kashō Yoshita is a particularly rare piece, designed around a genuine cherry bark integrated into the body of the object. This material presence of the tree, combined with the sakura (cherry tree) decor in maki-e, black lacquer, and raden (mother-of-pearl), gives the whole a superb depth. The yozakura (night cherry blossom) theme is treated here with great coherence, blending natural material, urushi lacquer, nocturnal reflections, and the evocation of the moon.

The artisan
Kashō Yoshita, born in 1940 in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, is a renowned master lacquerer in the field of chanoyu (tea ceremony) objects. Son of the maki-eshi (lacquerer) Eisaku Yoshita, he trained from adolescence with renowned artisans, studying maki-e (gold powder) and drawing. His work follows the tradition of Yamanaka lacquerware. He received the Governor's Award at the Yamanaka Maki-e Exhibition in 1982, the NHK President's Award at the National Lacquer Exhibition in 1990, and then the Japan Kōgei Association Award at the Ishikawa branch exhibition in 1993. He was recognized as a dentō kōgeishi (traditional artisan) in 1998, then as an outstanding technician of traditional industries in Ishikawa Prefecture in 2007.

Decor and techniques
This piece offers a complete interpretation of the Japanese sakura (cherry blossom). The cherry tree is not only represented by its flowers; it is also present through its very material, thanks to the integration of a very thin natural cherry bark applied around the body of the natsume. The veins, irregularities, and brown nuances of this bark remain visible, but the whole has been remarkably worked to form a perfect continuity with the lacquered areas of the lid and base. To the eye and touch, the bark is truly incorporated into the object.

The yozakura (night cherry blossom) theme then unfolds through several decorative registers. On the body, sakura (cherry blossom) flowers and petals in black lacquer stand out against the bark. Their almost nocturnal presence echoes the red and silver flowers visible on the black inner rim, which provide a luminous contrast. This alternation between brown, black, red, and silver creates a very rich reading of the motif, combining appearance, depth, and brilliance.

The lid features a second decorative register. On a deep red-burgundy lacquer background, sakura (cherry blossom) flowers with silver powder decoration are arranged, their brilliance contrasting with the warmth of the red background. Some flowers are enriched with raden (mother-of-pearl), a technique consisting of inlaying very thin shell plates into the lacquer, whose reflections change depending on the light's orientation. The bluish, green, and pinkish nuances of the mother-of-pearl enhance the nocturnal atmosphere of the composition.

The inner rim is also adorned with sakura (cherry blossom) flowers, while the interior, on a glossy black lacquer, features a moon decoration in gold powder maki-e, around which gold powder has been sprinkled (nashiji technique). The whole thus composes a true yozakura (night cherry blossom) scene, associating the tree, its bark, its flowers, and the moonlight in a single evocation.

Form and use
This natsume has the volume of a chū natsume (medium natsume) but with a flat-top lid and a slightly inclined, faceted shoulder. This construction gives the piece an architectural silhouette while retaining the traditional use as a container for matcha for usucha (light tea) in the Japanese tea ceremony.

Presentation
This piece comes with a tomobako (wooden box) bearing the artisan's signature, seal, and a description of the work. It is also presented with a tomonuno with the artisan's seal (protective cloth), a shiori (information document about the artisan), and a second cardboard washi paper box. The natsume is also signed by the artisan on its base.

Place of manufacture
Japan, Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture

Period
Heisei Era (1989-2019)

Dimensions
Diameter 7.3 cm - Height 7.5 cm

Weight
Natsume alone: 85 g
Natsume with boxes: 290 g

Materials
Wood, cherry bark, urushi lacquer, maki-e, raden (mother-of-pearl)

Condition
Very good condition.