Exquisite **Mubyo Gourd Natsume** by master **Nakamura Kaho**. This **Japanese Tea Caddy** featuring **Six Gourd Makie** in **Tame-nuri Lacquer** is a symbol of **Health and Longevity**. Including a **Signed Tomobako**, it is a **Luxury Ceremony Gift** for **Zen House Decor** and **Fine Art Urushi** collectors seeking **Masterpiece Tea Tools**.
A highly auspicious and artistic Natsume (tea caddy) by the master Nakamura Kaho. The name 'Mubyo' (Six Gourds) is a play on words for 'Mubyo' (No Sickness), making it one of the most beloved motifs in the Japanese tea world for celebrating health and recovery.
**Basic Details** - **Artist**: Nakamura Kaho (High-ranking lacquer artist) - **Form**: Fubuki (Snow-blow) style (cylindrical with sharp edges) - **Technique**: Tame-nuri (translucent brown/red lacquer) with gold Makie gourds - **Era**: Late 20th Century (Heisei Era) - **Origin**: Japan (typically Ishikawa/Wajima tradition) - **Dimensions**: Height 7.2 cm, Diameter 7.2 cm - **Box**: Original Signed Wooden Box (Tomobako) - **Condition**: Immaculate collector condition
**Cultural & Artistic Insight** Tame-nuri involves applying a translucent 'top' lacquer over a red base. Over decades, the red 'blooms' through the brown, creating a living color. The Six Gourds (Mubyo) are traditional charms against misfortune and disease, often gifted to family patriarchs or matrons.
**Deep-Dive Commentary** **Artistry**: Kaho’s gourds are painted with varying densities of gold, giving them a sense of movement as if they are floating in mid-air. The 'Fubuki' shape is technically demanding, requiring the lid and body to align perfectly to preserve the 'hidden join' aesthetic. **Symbolism**: Each of the six gourds is a different size and orientation, representing the diversity and organic nature of a long, healthy life. It is an ideal anchor for a New Year or celebratory tea gathering. **Usage**: The 'Fubuki' size is stable and has a substantial presence. Its flat top allows for different artistic presentations of the matcha powder during the 'Ha-iken' (inspection) ritual.
*A prayer for health, painted in gold on a river of dark amber.*
