This magnificent hand-wrought urushi lacquer Natsume represents the revered Akebono, or “Dawn” form, cherished within the Urasenke Chanoyu tradition as the favoured design of the eleventh Grand Master, Gen Gen Sai. Crafted and exquisitely hand-painted by the distinguished lacquer master Koshun, this tea caddy is finished in luminous vermillion shu-urushi, glowing with a rich, deep patina earned over decades. The domed lid bears an elegantly rendered black crane, the timeless emblem of longevity and good fortune. The cylindrical body is adorned with ethereal mist and cloud landscape of Arashiyama, masterfully brushed in classic Japanese sumi-e style, evoking the serene, soft light of early morning. It is preserved together with its original tomobako wooden storage box, bearing the artist’s brush inscription and personal vermilion seal, an irreplaceable mark of authentic provenance so highly valued by connoisseurs. Dating from the Taisho to early Showa era, this is not a commonplace production piece, but a refined work of Japanese tea art. The Akebono motif carries profound symbolic meaning, embodying the quiet hopeful radiance of daybreak, a theme central to the philosophy of the tea ceremony. A rare museum-quality treasure, perfectly suited for the discerning European and international collector of classical Japanese tea ceremony implements.