Experience Authentic Japan Art with this Nakamura Kosai Tea Caddy. This Japanese Tea Ceremony piece serves as a White Urushi Natsume and Kingfisher Maki-e, featuring Lid Interior Detail and Lacquerware Art—a must-have for any Art Collector.
🔹 [ Basic Details ] - Artist: Nakamura Kosai (中村湖彩) - Technique: White Lacquer (Shiro-urushi) with Maki-e (Gold/Silver sprinkles) of a kingfisher - Era: 1990s (Heisei Era) - Origin: Yamanaka Lacquerware, Ishikawa Prefecture - Dimensions: approx. Height 7.0 cm, Diameter 7.0 cm (Standard Naka-natsume) - Box: Original wooden box (Tomobako) included - Condition: Good vintage condition, unique white lacquer finish
🔹 [ Cultural & Artistic Insight ] Historical Context: Nakamura Kosai is a master of Yamanaka lacquerware, celebrated for his innovative use of color. The Kingfisher (Hisui) is a bird of good fortune and agility, often associated with the clarity of flowing water. Technique & Aesthetic: White lacquer is exceptionally difficult to stabilize, making this piece a rare technical achievement. The kingfisher is rendered in delicate Maki-e on the surface, while the interior of the lid features hidden artwork—a "private surprise" for the tea master. Philosophical Reflection: A flash of turquoise on a field of bone-white silence—cool water flowing through the heart of the ceremony.
🔹 [ Deep-Dive Commentary ] Kosai's approach to Naka-natsume (Medium Tea Caddies) involves a dialogue between tradition and modern sensibility. The white urushi provides a contemporary, minimalist aesthetic that is perfectly balanced by the classical Maki-e. The painting inside the lid (Ura-e) is a sophisticated Kyoto-inspired element that elevates the piece from a simple tool to a conversation piece. For the collector, this caddy represents the high-skill boundary of provincial lacquerware meeting high-art tea ceremony requirements.
