Akasaka Katsuro - Natsume - Lack, Holz, Goldpulver, Silberpulver - Sasatsuyu Maki-e

【Item Description】
An elegant Ō-hira natsume (大平棗) — a wide, flat-form tea caddy — for the Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu), by lacquer artist Akasaka Katsurō (赤坂勝朗) of the Kiso region, Nagano Prefecture, home to the centuries-old Kiso lacquerware (木曽漆器) tradition. The piece is finished in deep black lacquer (kuro-nuri) and decorated with a hiramaki-e design of bamboo leaves in gold, accented with softly gleaming silver-toned dew drops scattered across the surface — a motif known as "Sasatsuyu" (笹露蒔絵), literally "dew on bamboo grass." The broad, low silhouette characteristic of the ō-hira shape allows the flowing bamboo composition to unfold gracefully across the lid and body.

Bamboo holds deep symbolic meaning in Japanese culture. Together with pine and plum blossom, it forms the celebrated trio "Shōchikubai" (松竹梅, "pine, bamboo, plum"), one of the most auspicious and enduring motifs in Japanese art. Bamboo's evergreen foliage and its ability to bend in strong winds without breaking have long made it a symbol of resilience, integrity, and steady growth, while its rapid, upright growth evokes vitality and prosperity. Motifs drawn from this trio have traditionally adorned utensils used for New Year\'s celebrations, weddings, and other auspicious occasions, and remain a favorite subject in tea ceremony wares for the sense of good fortune and quiet strength they bring to the setting. The natsume is accompanied by its original signed wooden storage box (tomobako), inscribed by the artist and bearing his red seal, confirming authenticity and provenance.

【Size】
Height: 6.3 cm
Diameter: 8.6 cm

【Condition】
The natsume is in excellent condition with no visible chips, cracks, or losses to the lacquer or maki-e decoration. The original signed wooden box is present and in good condition, showing only light age-appropriate wear.

【Artist Profile】
Akasaka Katsurō (赤坂勝朗) is a Japanese lacquer artist from Narasawa, Narakawa-mura, Kiso-gun, Nagano Prefecture, an area known for its centuries-old Kiso lacquerware (木曽漆器) tradition. He began pursuing lacquer art in 1957. His work was first accepted into the prefectural exhibition in 1966, and in 1967 he received the Chūshin Prize at the same exhibition. In 1974, he was first accepted into the prestigious Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (日本伝統工芸展), a juried exhibition organized by the Japan Kōgei Association. He also received awards at the Shinshin Art Exhibition (1970) and a prefectural sculpture exhibition (1975), and a work of his was acquired for a Kiso lacquerware collection in 1978.

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Shipping & Important Notice
[Shipping]
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