Tokufu natsume (徳風棗) Miyata Munekage

Name: Tokufu natsume (徳風棗) Miyata Munekage
Brand: Thee van Anke
Price: 285.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

€285,00 EUR

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This elegant Tokufū Natsume (徳風棗) was created by Echizen lacquer artist Miyata Munekage (宮田宗景), based on an original design by the 11th Urasenke tea master Gengen Saikō (玄々斎). As iemoto, the head of the Urasenke tradition, he guided the development and transmission of the tea ceremony within his school. He is often cited as someone who worked to make the tea ceremony more accessible to a wider audience.

Motif

A refined maki-e decoration with nine golden rice grains is applied to the deep black urushi lacquer on the inside of the lid. On the outside, the phrase 「粒万倍」 (ichiryū manbai – “one grain becomes tenfold”) is written in elegant calligraphy. The combination of subtle gold accents and calligraphy forms a understated yet powerful composition in which simplicity and meaning reinforce each other.

Symbolism

The expression ichiryū manbai refers to the idea that a small beginning can grow into great abundance. The rice grains symbolize growth, fertility, and prosperity, emphasizing the value of seemingly small actions with great consequences. Within the context of the tea ceremony, this motif carries a wish for harmony, development, and a prosperous future.

Object details

Maker: Miyata Munekage 宮田宗景
Title: Ichiryū manbai (「粒万倍」)
Type: Tokufu Natsume
Material: Urushi maki-e
Diameter: ≈ 8.4 cm
Height: ≈ 6.3 cm
Condition: Excellent;
Accessories: Original tomobako with hanko, calligraphy, and cloth.
Extra: Biography of the maker.

Tomobako and authenticity

The natsume demonstrates a high level of craftsmanship: the lacquer is smooth and glossy, the maki-e fine and precise, and the finish meticulous down to the smallest detail. The piece comes with its original wooden tomobako (storage and presentation box) and accompanying sheet.

Signature and maker

Miyata Munekage (宮田宗景) is a contemporary Echizen urushi artist from Sabae, Kawada (河和田), the historic center of the Echizen lacquer tradition in Fukui Prefecture. He studied under maki-e master Minowa Issei (箕輪一星) from Shōwa 45 (1970) and became independent in 1975.

His work is characterized by technical precision, balanced forms, and a refined application of maki-e, with every detail carefully considered. He received, among other awards, the Shitsugei Kyōkai Prize (漆芸協会賞) and was selected for the Echizen Maki-e Mihon-ichi (越前蒔絵見本市), recognitions that underscore his position within the Japanese lacquer tradition.

As a gift

Through the symbolism of ichiryū manbai – “one grain multiplying into ten thousand” – this object carries a wish for growth, prosperity, and a fruitful future. It is therefore particularly suitable as a gift for a new beginning, such as the start of a business, a creative project, or a new phase of life, as a symbol of development and prosperity.