Prestigious **Kiku-Kiri Natsume** by master **Wada Juho**. This **Japanese Tea Caddy** features **Autumn Grass Makie** with **Crest of Chrysanthemum and Paulownia**. Store in a **Signed Tomobako**, it is an **Investment Grade Gift** for **Lacquerware collectors** seeking **Zen Tea Decor** and **Fine Japanese Art** masterpieces.
A supreme lacquerware creation by Wada Juho, one of the modern giants of Japanese lacquer art. This caddy combines the imperial 'Kiku-Kiri' (Chrysanthemum and Paulownia) crests with the soft, poetic beauty of autumn field grasses.
**Basic Details** - **Artist**: Wada Juho (Master lacquer artist) - **Technique**: High-grade black lacquer (Kuro-urushi) with gold/silver Taka-maki-e (raised lacquer) - **Era**: Late 20th Century (Heisei Era) - **Origin**: Japan - **Box**: Original Signed Wooden Box (Tomobako) - **Condition**: Pristine condition
**Cultural & Artistic Insight** The Paulownia and Chrysanthemum are the most sacred symbols in Japan, historically reserved for the Emperor and the government. Offsetting these powerful crests with wild autumn grasses (Aki-no-Nanakusa) represents the 'Wabi' balance between the aristocratic and the natural worlds.
**Deep-Dive Commentary** **Artistry**: Juho's work is celebrated for its 'three-dimensionality.' The crests are raised slightly off the surface using the Taka-maki-e technique, while the autumn grasses are painted with delicate, hair-thin lines that seem to sway in an invisible wind. **Quality**: The lacquer has a mirror-like depth that can only be achieved through dozens of layers of high-purity Urushi. The fit of the lid is 'suction-perfect,' a hallmark of a master craftsman. **Usage**: This caddy is a 'showstopper' for the autumn tea ceremony (Chakai). Its complex iconography invites the guest into a deeper conversation about Japanese heraldry and nature.
*A royal lineage whispering in the tall grass of autumn.*
