Natsumé / “Témari” black makié matcha box

"Natsumé" matcha box in black lacquered wood with a traditional Japanese ball motif made by Ryôsai Tsukushiro (1951-), a lacquer craftsman in Kaga, in Ishikawa prefecture. Temari (hand ball) is one of the oldest games and toys in Japan. Previously it was made simply by wrapping wire around a core, but from around the end of the 16th century a highly elastic ball was made by wrapping Zenmai cotton or other material around a core, which was then decorated with geometric patterns with beautiful colored threads. Like the "temari" being a girl's toy, the pattern symbolizes femininity and softness. This motif also expresses the wishes of parents for the happiness of their children: due to its round shape, it has a meaning "so that the child grows up harmoniously" or "so that everything settles down harmoniously", and is a symbol of healthy growth and happy life for the child.