Item Description Yonemoto Ryūsai (米本龍斎) — Japanese Black Lacquer Natsume Tea Caddy with Butterflies and Cherry Blossoms in Gold Maki-e A charming natsume (thin tea caddy used in the Japanese tea ceremony, chanoyu) in glossy black urushi lacquer, decorated in gold and copper-toned hira-maki-e with a design of flying butterflies (chō) amid scattered cherry blossoms (sakura) — a poetic pairing that evokes the fleeting beauty of spring. The lid and body each carry a graceful arrangement of butterflies in bright gold against the deep black ground, with smaller blossoms drifting around them, giving the piece a light, airy rhythm typical of fine natsume decoration. The interior of both the lid and body is finished in plain black lacquer. The piece is accompanied by its original kiri (paulownia) wood tomobako storage box, signed with the artist's inscription and seal, confirming its authenticity and lineage of careful ownership. A refined, decorative example of Japanese lacquer craftsmanship, well suited to tea practitioners or collectors of Japanese lacquerware and mingei-adjacent decorative arts. Size Height: 7 cm Width: 7 cm Depth: 7 cm Weight 53 g / 0.053 kg Condition Only minor age-related micro-scratches consistent with careful long-term storage, with no significant chips, cracks, or losses to the lacquer or gold maki-e. Artist Profile The maker's signature reads Yonemoto Ryūsai (米本龍斎), a lacquer craftsman (nushi) working in the maki-e tradition of tea-ceremony utensils. I was unable to verify further biographical details (workshop lineage, active period, or region) through available public sources — Ryūsai appears to be a lesser-documented artisan rather than a widely catalogued name, so I'd recommend treating attribution details cautiously and, if this matters for the listing, checking with a specialist appraiser before publishing. I've left this section brief accordingly rather than filling in unverifiable claims. NOITICE: The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post, 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 Customes 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.