Brooch（modern）

This is a natsume (tea caddy) adorned with authentic maki-e (gold lacquer) work.
The "Eggshell Gold Maki-e" natsume is crafted using a rare urushi (lacquer) art technique that uses eggshells to create white expressions.

As it is difficult to express pure white with lacquer, the transparency and delicate texture inherent only in the natural white of eggshells create the unique beauty of this piece. The fine, crack-like patterns evoke a sense of transience and serenity, and, resonating with the gleam of the gold maki-e, they paint a landscape with profound depth.

The eggshells used are carefully selected one by one, and only after painstaking preparation—such as removing blemishes and peeling off the inner membrane—can they be used as material. Furthermore, the process of applying tiny eggshell fragments one by one, meticulously adjusting their position with a tool as small as a toothpick, requires extremely high concentration and a great deal of time.

The "eggshell inlay" technique, passed down through generations, is now a rare art form, with very few artisans practicing it.

This is a tea caddy where delicate white, tranquil crack patterns, and the elegance of gold maki-e are harmoniously blended. It adds a dignified beauty to the tea ceremony, and its lacquer deepens in luster with use, making it a masterpiece to be cherished for a long time.