19th c. Japanese Tea Ceremony Set.

Paulownia(Kiri) wood box with designs of textile fragments. Buddhist lions, cranes and flowers are highlighted in colored lacquers against a background of natural wood with a warm patina. Fitted inside are several utensils for the tea ceremony(chanoyu) or “Way of the Tea” - a bamboo tea scoop(chashaku) and whisk(chasen), ceramic and lacquer tea caddy(natsume) to hold the powdered green tea(matcha), cloth napkin(chakin) and a ceramic tea bowl(chawan). The original artist’s box(tomobako) is included.

5 x 7.25 x 4.75 inches