Japanese lacquer tea caddy (Natsume), gold makie, Murata Michihiro This is a Japanese lacquer tea caddy (Natsume) by the lacquer artist Murata Michihiro, active during the late Showa to Heisei period. The piece features an elegant gold makie decoration depicting autumn grasses on a deep black lacquer ground. The refined composition and rich use of gold powder demonstrate a high level of craftsmanship and a strong sense of traditional Japanese aesthetics associated with tea ceremony utensils. The surface condition is overall very good, with a beautiful and well-preserved makie design. There is minor surface wear on the base, which is not visible during normal display or use and does not detract from the overall impression of the work. Please refer to the photos for details. Artist profile Murata Michihiro is a Japanese lacquer artist known for traditional tea ceremony utensils such as natsume and incense containers. Active mainly during the late 20th century, his works combine classical makie techniques with a refined, modern sense of design. His lacquerware is appreciated both in Japan and internationally for its balance of elegance and craftsmanship. The tea caddy comes with its original signed wooden storage box (tomobako), confirming authenticity. NOITICE: The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post. 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.