Item Description Please read the following notice before purchasing. Shipping method – The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by DHL or FedEx depend on the situation. It takes about 3 weeks to receive normally. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Sometimes Customs or delivery company in your country contact you for Customs clearance via phone or email. Please make sure that you could answer the phone. If you don't, the parcel will return to me and it cost more double shipping fee for reshipping. I appreciate your cooperation. A beautifully crafted Japanese pure tin (hon-suzu) tea caddy (chatubo), bearing the mark of Suzuha (錫半), one of the most prestigious and historically revered tin craft establishments in Japan. Founded in 1714 in the Shinsaibashi district of Osaka, Suzuha was celebrated for over two and a half centuries for producing exceptional quality tin wares before its closure in 1996. Pieces bearing the Suzuha mark are now prized collectibles representing the pinnacle of the Osaka Naniwa tin craft tradition. The body is cast and finished from pure tin (hon-suzu) — a material prized since antiquity for its lustrous silver sheen, natural antibacterial properties, and remarkable ability to preserve the freshness and aroma of stored tea leaves. The form is a classic rounded tea caddy shape with a tight-fitting double lid that seals the interior with fine precision, keeping tea leaves protected from air, moisture, and light. The exterior surface is beautifully engraved with a landscape of traditional Japanese auspicious motifs: soaring cranes (tsuru) in flight above graceful pine trees (matsu), delicate plum blossoms (ume), and bamboo (take) — the celebrated combination of sho-chiku-bai alongside the crane, all symbols of longevity, resilience, and good fortune. The contrast between the finely textured matte body and the silver-bright engraved lines gives the piece a refined and stately presence. The maker's seal is stamped on both the base of the body and the underside of the lid. The interior retains a clean, beautiful surface appropriate for continued use as a tea caddy. This is a rare and collectible piece of Japanese traditional metalwork, ideal for enthusiasts of Japanese tea culture, sen-cha ceremony, or collectors of vintage Japanese tin ware. My Message: Thank you so much for looking at my item. I run a recycle shop in Japan. I joined Catawiki because I want to deliver wonderful items filled with Japanese craftsmanship and history to people all over the world. Please feel free to message me anytime if you have any questions. With gratitude to everyone — ARIGATO. Size Height: 12 cm Width: 9.5 cm Weight 451 g Condition The caddy is in relatively good overall condition with a clean interior, showing age-appropriate minor scratches and surface scuffs on the exterior; a small dent is noted in the bamboo-motif area of the body (circled in the reference photo), and some minor scratches are visible on the interior surface. Artist Profile 錫半 Suzuha (Suzuha Tin Craft Studio, est. 1714 – closed 1996) Suzuha was one of Japan's most storied and historically significant tin craft establishments, founded in 1714 in Shinsaibashi, Osaka — then the flourishing center of Japan's tin crafts industry. For nearly three centuries, Suzuha produced pure tin (hon-suzu) wares of the highest quality, representing the finest expression of the Osaka Naniwa Suzuki tradition, which was later designated a Japanese national traditional craft. The workshop's pieces were known for their exceptional material purity, precision lid fitting, and elegant engraved decoration. With Suzuha's closure in 1996, its marked pieces have become sought-after antiques, treasured for their craftsmanship and historical significance. Catawiki出品項目 Artist: 錫半 Suzuha (1714–1996) Title of Artwork: Rare Japanese Pure Tin Tea Caddy with Crane & Pine Engraving by Suzuha — Osaka's Legendary Tin Craft Year: 20th century (Showa period, est.) Material: Pure tin (hon-suzu) Country of origin: Japan Height: 12 cm Width: 9.5 cm Weight: 451 g Condition: Good — minor scratches, surface wear, one small dent in bamboo motif area