{"product_id":"chu-natsume-tachi-bina-maki-e-tea-caddy-standing-hina-dolls-izutsu-kansai-plum-blossom-japan","title":"Chū-Natsume Tachi-bina Maki-e Tea Caddy – Standing Hina Dolls – Izutsu Kansai – Plum Blossom – Japan","description":"🔹 [ GOLDEN-RATIO HOOK ]\u003cbr\u003eA chū-natsume tea caddy by Izutsu Kansai, its lid adorned with tachi-bina (standing Hina dolls) in gold and polychrome maki-e and its body graced with a plum blossom branch in gold. This Japanese lacquer tea caddy depicts the Emperor and Empress in the oldest Hina doll form — tachi-bina, standing figures that predate the seated court dolls — rendered with a folk-art warmth that invites seasonal celebration. A tea caddy that carries the spirit of early spring and the traditions of Hinamatsuri into the tearoom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e🔹 [ BASIC DETAILS ]\u003cbr\u003e• Artist: Izutsu Kansai (井筒寛斎)\u003cbr\u003e• Technique: Maki-e (gold and polychrome) on urushi lacquer\u003cbr\u003e• Motif: Tachi-bina (立雛, standing Hina dolls) with ume (plum blossom)\u003cbr\u003e• Origin: Japan\u003cbr\u003e• Dimensions: Diameter approx. 6.5 cm, Height approx. 7 cm\u003cbr\u003e• Box: Tomobako with calligraphy '立雛蒔絵 中棗 寛斎作' and seal, purple ribbon\u003cbr\u003e• Condition: Very good — no chips or cracks; minor surface scratching on bottom\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e🔹 [ CULTURAL \u0026amp; ARTISTIC INSIGHT ]\u003cbr\u003eTachi-bina (立雛) are the ancestral form of Hina dolls, originating in the Heian period when paper figures were floated on rivers to carry away impurities. Unlike the elaborate seated dolls of later centuries, tachi-bina stand side by side — Emperor and Empress in simple, vertical forms — preserving the ritual's original purity. On a tea caddy, this motif signals use during early spring gatherings, particularly around Hinamatsuri (March 3). The plum blossoms on the body reinforce the seasonal context: ume blooms in late February and early March, announcing spring's arrival while frost still lingers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e🔹 [ DEEP-DIVE COMMENTARY ]\u003cbr\u003eKansai's tachi-bina have a distinctive folk-art character. The Emperor wears robes of gold and green, the Empress in red and gold — their forms simplified to near-abstraction yet immediately recognizable. This deliberate warmth distinguishes the piece from the formal precision of court-style lacquerwork. The choice of folk-style rendering aligns with the wabi-cha aesthetic, where approachability and human warmth are valued over technical formality.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe plum branch on the body is rendered in gold maki-e with understated elegance — a few key strokes suggesting gnarled bark and open blossoms. The black lacquer ground is deep and well-polished, providing a restful field that allows the maki-e to carry the composition without visual competition. The purple ribbon on the tomobako suggests a celebratory or formal presentation context.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNote: The bottom shows minor surface scratching (スレ傷), consistent with careful use over time. The lacquer body and maki-e decoration remain fully intact.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e*Two figures stand together in gold and spring color. The oldest dolls remember what newer ones have forgotten.*\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e🔹 [ SHIPPING \u0026amp; PACKAGING ]\u003cbr\u003e• Dispatch: Within 1-6 business days\u003cbr\u003e• Carrier: Japan Post EMS \/ UPS (with tracking)\u003cbr\u003e• Packaging: Carefully wrapped with protective materials\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e🔹 [ JAPANESE DESCRIPTION \/ 日本語解説 ]\u003cbr\u003e井筒寛斎作の中棗、立雛蒔絵です。蓋に金・色蒔絵で立雛（男雛・女雛）が描かれ、胴部には金蒔絵の梅花枝が配されています。立雛は素朴な味わいの作風で、茶席に春の慶びを運ぶ一品です。共箱に「立雛蒔絵 中棗 寛斎作」の箱書きと花押、紫リボン付き。径約6.5cm、高さ約7cm。底面に小さなスレ傷がありますが、漆面・蒔絵ともに良好な状態です。","brand":"The Modern Zen Archive","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":61605598036338,"sku":"260130_1963","price":1115.0,"currency_code":"AED","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0960\/5680\/3698\/files\/nano_606_1769948808020_b6cc3cc9-12c6-4367-9bd5-e747a4a5abf2.jpg?v=1771382475","url":"https:\/\/checkout.themodernzenarchive.com\/products\/chu-natsume-tachi-bina-maki-e-tea-caddy-standing-hina-dolls-izutsu-kansai-plum-blossom-japan","provider":"The Modern Zen Archive","version":"1.0","type":"link"}