Gold Lacquer Chrysanthemum Kashi-ki Confection Box - Japanese Urushi Sweets Container

Experience Authentic Japanese Tea Culture with this Gold Lacquer Box. This Japanese Kashi-ki serves as a Chrysanthemum Lacquer Art and Urushi Confection Box, featuring Kin-nuri Gold Finish and Kiku Flower Design—a must-have for any Art Collector seeking Japanese Lacquerware and Wagashi Sweets Box.

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🔹 [ BASIC DETAILS ]

• Artist: Unknown (unsigned)
• Technique: Gold lacquer (kin-nuri) over carved wood
• Era: Contemporary (Heisei period)
• Origin: Japan
• Dimensions: Diameter approx. 10.5 cm (4.1 in), Height approx. 6.7 cm (2.6 in)
• Box: Wooden storage box inscribed "菓子器" (kashi-ki)
• Condition: Excellent — no chips or cracks

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🔹 [ CULTURAL & ARTISTIC INSIGHT ]

The kashi-ki (菓子器) is the vessel that holds wagashi — the seasonal Japanese confections served before tea. In the tea ceremony, it arrives before the bowl, setting the stage for what follows. This chrysanthemum-shaped kashi-ki in full gold lacquer carries both functional purpose and symbolic weight. The kiku (chrysanthemum) is Japan's imperial flower, representing longevity, nobility, and the arrival of autumn.

The form itself is sculptural — scalloped petals radiate from a central lattice pattern on the lid, creating the impression of a flower in full bloom. The lid lifts to reveal an interior space sized for two or three pieces of wagashi. Gold lacquer (kin-nuri) transforms a functional vessel into a ceremonial object, its warm metallic surface catching and reflecting the subdued light of a tea room.

*"Gold does not shout in a tea room — it absorbs the silence and returns it, warmer."*

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🔹 [ DEEP-DIVE COMMENTARY ]

**The Kashi-ki Tradition**: In chanoyu, the kashi-ki occupies a specific moment in the ceremony's choreography — it is presented to guests during the initial course, and the confection it holds is chosen to complement the tea that will follow. The vessel itself communicates the host's aesthetic judgment and seasonal awareness.

**Gold Lacquer Technique**: Kin-nuri involves applying multiple coats of urushi (lacquer sap from the Toxicodendron vernicifluum tree) mixed with gold powder or gold leaf. Each coat must cure in a controlled humidity environment before the next layer is applied. The result is a deep, warm gold that differs fundamentally from metallic paint — it has depth, warmth, and a subtle translucency built up through layering.

**Chrysanthemum Symbolism**: The sixteen-petal chrysanthemum is the Imperial Seal of Japan. In the tea ceremony context, kiku motifs appear prominently in September and October gatherings, honoring the Chrysanthemum Festival (Choyo no Sekku) on the ninth day of the ninth month. The lattice pattern on this lid echoes traditional Japanese basket-weaving motifs.

**Functional Beauty**: Despite its ornamental appearance, this vessel is meant to be used. The proportions are considered — wide enough to arrange wagashi attractively, shallow enough that guests can easily select their confection. The gold surface is durable under normal use and develops a deeper patina over decades.

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🔹 [ 日本語解説 ]

【基本情報】
• 作家：不詳
• 技法：金塗漆（きんぬり）
• 時代：現代（平成）
• 産地：日本
• 寸法：径約10.5cm、高さ約6.7cm
• 付属：木箱（「菓子器」箱書き）
• 状態：良好（ヒビ・カケなし）

【解説】
菓子器は茶事において茶碗に先立って出される器であり、亭主の美意識と季節感を表す重要な道具である。本作は菊花の形を模した金塗漆の蓋物で、蓋の中央に格子文、周囲に花弁を配した彫刻的な造形が特徴。

金塗は漆に金粉を練り込んで塗り重ねる技法で、金属的な塗料とは異なる深みと温かみを持つ。菊は皇室の御紋章であると同時に、長寿と高潔を象徴する花として茶道具に広く用いられる。九月の重陽の節句をはじめ、秋の茶席にふさわしい格調を備えた一品。

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🔹 [ SHIPPING & PACKAGING ]
• Dispatch: Within 1-6 business days
• Carrier: Japan Post EMS / UPS (with tracking)
• Packaging: Carefully wrapped with protective materials

*Sixteen petals in gold — the flower that outlasts every season.*