A complete set of implements made for performing the Japanese Maccha Tea Ceremony by Nakamura Soetsu created almost entirely of bamboo signed Soetsu and enclosed in a cloth lined woven bamboo basket containing an inner tray. The set consists of five plates cut from bamboo knurls and a persimmon shaped container made from a gourd wrapped in a silk pouch. Also a Chawan tea bowl and Natsume tea container in a second pouch, a futaoki lid rest, whisk and whisk container, Shaku water scoop, Kogo incense container, and, of course, a teaspoon. Excepting the gourd, all is made of bamboo. The persimmon shaped gourd container is 10 x 8.5 cm (4 x 3-1/2 inches). The Sencha plates: 10.5 x 1.5 cm (just over 4 inches diameter). The Bamboo tea bowl is 9.5 cm (just under 4 inches) diameter, 8 cm tall. The Natsume Tea container: 5.5 x 6 cm (roughly 2-1/2 inches tall), and the Basket: 24.5 x 16 x 20 cm (10 x 6-1/4 x 8 inches).
Nakamura Soetsu was born in Ishikawa Prefecture in 1932. He began studying the traditional lacquer technique kyushitsu under the guidance of his father in 1946. This demanding method involves applying lacquer to a substrate using spatulas or brushes, requiring a high degree of precision and control. In 1967, he received instruction in the tea ceremony from Master Nakao Sowa of Tokuonji Temple, marking the beginning of his dedicated focus on creating utensils for tea practice. Over the following years, he was awarded numerous prizes at national lacquerware exhibitions. His contributions to the field were further recognized when he received the tea name Sokyo in 1987, and later, in 1992, became an associate instructor of tea ceremony—affirming his respected position within both the lacquer arts and the tea culture community.
