Gosho-kago Travel Tea Set by Noguchi Ushū — Complete Nodate Ensemble

Discover this gosho kago tea set, an authentic woven bamboo basket for nodate outdoor tea. This portable tea basket and complete chado set features a travel tea ceremony ensemble with brocade tea pouch and lacquer natsume set—a signed tomobako art from the japan tea ceremony tradition, a palace basket japan treasure of enduring presence.

🔹 [ Basic Details ]
• Artist: Noguchi Ushū (野口雨秋), master bamboo basket craftsman
• Technique: Finely woven bamboo (ajiro-ami and variant weaves) with lacquered metal fittings; complete tea utensil ensemble
• Era: Contemporary (Heisei–Reiwa period)
• Origin: Japan
• Dimensions: Height approx. 13 cm, Width approx. 20 × 15 cm
• Box: Signed tomobako (共箱) inscribed "御所籠" (Gosho-kago), signed 野口雨秋 with seal
• Contents: Woven bamboo gosho-kago, lacquer natsume (tea caddy), chasen (tea whisk), kinran brocade pouches, chawan carrier net, folding sensu fan, silk fukusa cloth
• Condition: Excellent — basket shows fine age-appropriate patina. All utensils and accessories in very good condition.

🔹 [ Cultural & Artistic Insight ]
The gosho-kago (御所籠, palace basket) is among the most refined expressions of portable tea culture. Named after the imperial palace tradition of carrying tea utensils in woven baskets, it represents the intersection of functional craft and aesthetic refinement.

Noguchi Ushū constructs this basket with intricate herringbone and chevron weave patterns, creating a surface that shifts between geometric precision and organic texture. The aged patina of the bamboo strips has deepened to a silvered grey-brown, lending the basket an authority that only time confers. Gold lacquered metal fittings with wave-scroll motifs frame the basket's midsection, adding a touch of formality to the rustic weave.

Inside, each utensil is wrapped in kinran (金襴) brocade — a gold-threaded silk fabric with floral arabesques — creating layers of discovery as the host unpacks the set. The deep burgundy ties bind everything together with quiet ceremony.

This is not merely a container. It is a portable tea room, carrying within it every element needed to create a moment of shared stillness anywhere.

"The basket holds more than utensils. It holds the possibility of gathering."

🔹 [ Deep-Dive Commentary ]
The gosho-kago tradition connects to the broader practice of nodate (野点, outdoor tea ceremony), where tea is prepared in gardens, temple grounds, or natural settings. The act of carrying a self-contained tea set into the landscape transforms any location into a temporary tea space, embodying the wabi principle of finding depth in simplicity.

Noguchi Ushū's weaving demonstrates mastery of multiple bamboo-working techniques. The primary body uses ajiro-ami (網代編み, wickerwork weave) with variations in angle and density that create visual rhythm across the surface. The edges are finished with precise binding that prevents unraveling while maintaining clean lines.

The interior brocade lining features an arabesque pattern in terracotta and gold — a protective layer that also elevates the experience of opening the basket. Each utensil has its designated wrapping and position, reflecting the tea ceremony's emphasis on order and mindful handling.

A complete gosho-kago set of this quality represents a self-contained world of tea practice. For collectors and practitioners alike, it offers both the utility of outdoor tea preparation and the aesthetic pleasure of a meticulously assembled ensemble.

【日本語解説】

🔹 [ 基本情報 ]
・作家：野口雨秋（竹工芸家）
・技法：竹編み（網代編み他）、金蒔絵金具、金襴裂地
・時代：現代（平成・令和期）
・産地：日本
・寸法：高さ約13cm、横約20×15cm
・箱：共箱（「御所籠」と墨書、野口雨秋落款・印）
・内容物：竹編み御所籠、漆棗、茶筅、金襴袋、茶碗網袋、扇子、袱紗類
・状態：良好 — 籠は時代相応の美しい枯れ。道具類全て良好。

🔹 [ 文化的・美術的解説 ]
御所籠は携帯茶文化の最も洗練された表現の一つである。宮中の茶道具運搬の伝統に由来し、実用工芸と美的洗練の交差点に位置する。

野口雨秋は精緻な杉綾・山型の編み模様で幾何的精密さと有機的質感を行き来する表面を構成する。竹の銀灰褐色の枯れは時間だけが与える権威を宿す。金蒔絵金具の波唐草が編みの素朴さに格式を添える。内部では各道具が金襴裂に包まれ、亭主が一つずつ取り出す所作に発見の層を生む。

🔹 [ 深掘り解説 ]
御所籠は野点の伝統に連なり、庭園・社寺・自然の中で茶を点てる行為があらゆる場を仮の茶室に変える。この自足した茶の世界は侘びの精神を体現する。

野口雨秋の編みは網代編みを基本に角度と密度を変化させ表面にリズムを刻む。内装の唐草金襴は道具を守りつつ開籠の体験を高め、各道具の定位置は茶の湯における秩序と所作への意識を反映する。この水準の完備した御所籠は茶の実践の自足世界であり、蒐集家と実践者の双方に野点の実用と精密に組み上げられたアンサンブルの美を提供する。

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