A nakatsugi (cylindrical tea caddy) by Doi Yoshimine in which the Three Friends of Winter are distributed across two distinct lacquer grounds: dense gold nashiji (pear-skin) on the lid bearing pine needle maki-e; deep black lacquer on the body carrying gold bamboo and plum blossom. The contrast is not decorative contrast — it is compositional argument.
[ DETAILS ] • Type: Nakatsugi (cylindrical tea caddy) • Maker: 土井義峰 (Doi Yoshimine) • Decoration: Shochikubai (pine, bamboo, plum) in gold maki-e; nashiji lid + black lacquer body • Provenance: Signed storage box included • Dimensions: Height approx. 7 cm, diameter approx. 6.9 cm • Condition: Excellent; gold work and nashiji surface pristine
[ CULTURAL INSIGHT ] Shochikubai — the pine, bamboo, and plum — constitutes one of Japan's most durable auspicious groupings, imported from Chinese literati culture and transformed over centuries into a native grammar of celebration, resilience, and renewal. The distribution of the three elements across two lacquer grounds (one lit, one dark) mirrors their seasonal logic: pine holds through all weathers; bamboo stands in wind; plum blooms first, into cold.
[ DEEP DIVE ] Nashiji ground is achieved by embedding fine gold or silver flakes at varying depths within successive lacquer layers and polishing to a semi-matte finish — the surface appears to generate its own luminosity. On the lid of this nakatsugi, the pine needle maki-e plays against this ground as a darker drawing on a glowing page. The abrupt shift to matte black on the body intensifies both surfaces: neither would read as powerfully without the other. Doi Yoshimine's choice is structural, not incidental.
🔹 [ SHIPPING & PACKAGING ] • Dispatch: Within 1-6 business days • Carrier: Japan Post EMS / UPS (with tracking) • Packaging: Carefully wrapped with protective materials
