【Important notes】 ・International buyers are responsible for any import duties, taxes, and charges not included in the item price or shipping cost. Please note that VAT paid to Catawiki is separate from and does not cover import duties or customs charges in your country. You may still be required to pay additional fees upon delivery, as determined by your local customs authorities. ・Shipping Details: Most items are shipped via Japan Post EMS (airmail). If you are in a hurry, we can arrange shipping via DHL or FedEx upon request for an additional fee. ・Damage and Issues: If you receive a damaged item, please contact us immediately. The damage must be reported to your local post office within 7 days of delivery, and promptly to us and Catawiki support. 【Product details】 This is a Showa period ō-natsume (large tea caddy) decorated with chidori (plovers) maki-e, created by the renowned Kanazawa lacquer artist Tanaka Kenchi (田中健智), second generation of the Tanaka lineage. The glossy black lacquer ground is adorned with finely executed gold maki-e depicting flying plovers. The motif is elegant and dynamic, well suited to the tea ceremony, where seasonal and poetic symbolism is highly valued. In Japanese art, plovers symbolise perseverance and safe passage. Often depicted flying over waves or open space, they represent resilience, harmony, and the strength to overcome hardship together, as plovers are typically shown in pairs or groups. Maki-e is a traditional Japanese decorative technique in which gold or silver powder is sprinkled onto wet lacquer to form detailed designs. Tanaka Kenchi was born in Kanazawa in 1910 (Meiji 43). From an early stage in his career, he received numerous awards at major exhibitions, including the Kaneshitsu Exhibition, Shōkō Exhibitions, and the Contemporary Art Exhibition. His works were presented to members of the Imperial family, including Prince Chichibu and Prince Kan’in. In 1958, one of his works was acquired by the Soviet Union as a national treasure. In 1962, he was officially recognised as an art master. A defining feature of his practice was his commitment to completing all stages of lacquer work himself, without division of labour. A handwritten provenance memo from the original owner is included. It records that in June 1991, the master craftsman Tanaka Kenchi personally visited the owner’s residence to deliver this natsume, which was purchased directly from him for 150,000 JPY. At the time, he was 81 years old. This note confirms direct acquisition from the artist and provides strong assurance of authenticity and historical significance. The base of the tea caddy bears the artist’s signature. The original wooden storage box is inscribed by hand with the title, signature, and seal. There is surface wear consistent with age, a small chip to the rim of the lid, and minor lacquer losses. Please refer to the photos for details. Dimensions: approx. H 7.5 cm W 7.3 cm D 7.3 cm ・Please make sure to review all the provided information and images before placing your bid. ・We make every effort to accurately represent the product's colors and textures in our photos. However, due to differences in monitors and device displays, as well as photographic conditions, slight color variations between the photos and the actual product may occur. We ask for your understanding in advance. Thank you for your interest, and happy bidding!