【Important notes】 ・International Buyers: Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer’s responsibility. ・Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying. These duties are paid to your country's customs office and not to us. Prompt payment of these fees is necessary to ensure delivery of your item. ・Please note: VAT paid to Catawiki is separate from and do not cover import duties, or customs charges in your country. You may still be required to pay additional fees upon delivery, as determined by your local customs authorities. 【Product details】 This exquisite tea caddy, known as a "natsume," features a striking black lacquered surface adorned with a delicate gold maki-e design of a willow tree, highlighted with gold foil accents. The interior and base are finished in silver, adding a subtle yet luxurious contrast to the gold and black exterior. In Japanese culture, the willow tree symbolizes grace, resilience, and the ability to withstand life's challenges, as its flexible branches bend but do not break under pressure. The intricate maki-e technique, used to create this design, involves sprinkling gold or silver powder onto wet lacquer, resulting in intricate and enduring patterns. This tea caddy is the work of Kaga artisan Yoshida Kanshou (real name: Yoshida Toshiaki), born in February 1940 in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Trained under the esteemed master Nakauchi Teruo (Nakauchi Kōhō), Yoshida was recognized as a traditional craftsman by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1998. He also served as a cultural property surveyor for Yamanaka Town in 1994. While there is some minor discoloration of the silver interior, the overall condition of the piece remains remarkable. Please refer to the photos for details on the item's condition. Dimensions: approx. H 7 cm W 7 cm D 7 cm ・Please make sure to review all the provided information and images before placing your bid. ・We make every effort to accurately represent the product's colors and textures in our photos. However, due to differences in monitors and device displays, as well as photographic conditions, slight color variations between the photos and the actual product may occur. We ask for your understanding in advance. Thank you for your interest, and happy bidding!