Koji Takaharu Chinkin Pine Needle Hira-Natsume | Wajima Lacquer Tea Caddy

A black lacquer tea caddy whose surface holds something that cannot be rushed — ten thousand pine needles carved by hand into lacquer, then filled with gold. This is the Wajima chinkin tradition at the level of patient authorship.

The hira-natsume by Koji Takaharu presents a surface of extraordinary density. Chinkin (sunken gold) is the opposite of maki-e in its logic: where maki-e builds up, chinkin carves in. Each pine needle visible on this caddy was individually incised with a chisel, then packed with gold. The result is a surface that absorbs light rather than reflecting it — matte gold emerging from black, like winter frost on dark bark.

🔹 [ BASIC DETAILS ]
▸ Type: Hira-natsume (flat tea caddy) for usucha
▸ Artist: Koji Takaharu (小路高春)
▸ Dimensions: H approx. 5.4 cm × D approx. 7.9 cm
▸ Condition: Excellent. Chinkin detail crisp and complete.
▸ Box: Tomobako with green-brown cord, sealed with "高春" artist seal

Wajima-nuri is the most technically rigorous lacquer tradition in Japan — layers numbered in the dozens, each requiring time to cure, materials drawn from Noto Peninsula earth. Within Wajima, chinkin carving is considered the highest test of the craftsman's hand: a single slip of the chisel cannot be corrected.

The pine (matsu) carries weight that transcends decoration. In Japan it is the tree of endurance, of the New Year, of those who remain. The flat hira-natsume form concentrates attention — the entire surface is visible at once, the design must hold the gaze. Here it does.

Koji Takaharu's chinkin at this scale is work that earns silence.

【日本語説明】
小路高春作、松葉沈金平棗。輪島塗の伝統技法・沈金により、黒漆地に松葉を一本ずつ丁寧に彫り込み金を充填した作品。沈金は塗面に直接のみで文様を刻む輪島塗の代表的加飾技法であり、一度刻んだ線は修正がきかない。松は常緑の耐久を象徴し、新年と永続性を意味する。平棗の扁平なフォルムにより、全面にわたる精緻な松葉文様が一望できる。共箱付（緑茶紐、「高春」印）。寸法：高さ約5.4cm、直径約7.9cm。状態：極美。

▸ SHIPPING & PACKAGING
Each piece is wrapped in traditional Japanese washi paper, cushioned with bubble wrap, and double-boxed for international transit. We ship from Japan via Japan Post EMS or DHL. Estimated delivery: 5–10 business days. Tracking provided. For any customs duties or import taxes, buyers are responsible per their country's regulations.

🔹 [ SHIPPING & PACKAGING ]
• Dispatch: Within 1-6 business days
• Carrier: Japan Post EMS / UPS (with tracking)
• Packaging: Carefully wrapped with protective materials
• Insurance: Included for all shipments
• Note: Import duties and taxes may apply depending on your country's regulations