Ichigo Ichizoku-zukuri (a type of tea date) with landscape and maki-e pattern.

Tea Dates with Landscape Pattern

Ichigo Ichijo (1898-1991) was a master of Japanese lacquerware maki-e and a Living National Treasure. In 1977, he was designated by the Japanese government as an Important Intangible Cultural Property.

A model of the Showa era, surpassing his predecessors, a legendary maki-e artist hailed as the "pinnacle" of Wajima enamelware. His works are meticulously crafted, and he is especially skilled in advanced techniques such as high maki-e, mother-of-pearl inlay, and pear-shaped enamel. He was appointed as the official maki-e artist by the Senka school of tea ceremony and presented his works to the Emperor on multiple occasions, demonstrating his status in the industry. He is truly an uncrowned king!

Tea caddies: also called tea containers or tea caddies, are vessels used to hold tea leaves. Tea caddies are top-tier collectibles among Wajima terracotta warriors! The pigments used are all extracted from natural minerals such as malachite, agate, lapis lazuli, and jade, and the process is extremely intricate.

Wajima lacquerware originated in the Kanbun era of the Edo period, more than 600 years ago. It is the name of a type of lacquerware produced in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, on the Noto Peninsula, and was designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan by the Japanese government in 1977 (equivalent to China's Intangible Cultural Heritage). Wajima lacquerware is also considered the finest among traditional Japanese lacquerware.

The tea caddy was made by the Japanese maki-e master, Ichigo-cho. The phoenix in Zhuangzi says: "It will not perch except on the parasol tree, it will not eat except the fruit of the lotus, and it will not drink except from the sweet spring," which symbolizes a noble character. This tea caddy comes with a set of cloth, a box, and an outer box.