Vintage Japanese Chaire (Tea Caddy) with Ivory-Style Lid and Brocade Shifuku Bag, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0625

Vintage Japanese Chaire (Tea Caddy) with Ivory-Style Lid and Brocade Shifuku Bag, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0625

A richly glazed stoneware chaire with an ivory-style lid and brocade shifuku bag -- a complete set straight from the Japanese tea ceremony tradition.

A chaire is a small lidded ceramic caddy used in the Japanese tea ceremony (chado) to store the thick powdered matcha known as koicha. Among the most revered utensils in the tea room, a fine chaire was traditionally presented nestled inside a hand-sewn shifuku -- a fitted drawstring bag of brocade silk whose pattern and color were chosen to complement the vessel beneath. This example is a beautifully crafted piece of vintage Japanese ceramics: the squat, pillow-shaped body is covered in a deep, glossy black glaze that bleeds into warm russet and mottled amber drip markings at the shoulder and rim -- a surface character strongly reminiscent of the tenmoku (oil-spot) glaze tradition prized by tea masters for centuries. The unglazed foot ring, visible on the base, reveals the buff stoneware beneath and adds a pleasing note of wabi-sabi honesty. The flat ivory-colored lid -- likely bone or an ivory-style material -- fits snugly with a small central knob, its lathe-turned concentric rings a quiet counterpoint to the dramatic glaze below. The accompanying shifuku bag is woven in a bold red-orange silk brocade with a repeating shippo (interlocking circle) and floral mon pattern in cream and gold, gathered with a twisted purple cord -- a combination that speaks to careful, traditional curation.

Today this chaire set is as versatile as it is beautiful. Displayed open on a living room shelf or side table, the glossy black vessel and vibrant brocade bag make an effortless Japandi style statement -- the contrast of matte unglazed stoneware, mirror-black glaze, and vivid textile is visually striking without effort. Its small scale makes it ideal as a desktop accent holding a folded note, a ring, or a few small treasures, bringing a wabi-sabi aesthetic to a home office or vanity. It also makes a deeply considered unique gift for collectors, Japanophiles, or anyone who practices or simply appreciates the art of the tea ceremony -- arriving as a complete, ready-to-display set.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa)
• Material: Stoneware with deep black glaze and russet drip markings; ivory-style fitted lid (bone or ivory-style material); red-orange brocade silk shifuku bag with purple drawstring cord
• Use: Chaire -- a tea ceremony caddy for storing powdered matcha (koicha), presented in its brocade shifuku bag
• Modern Use: Wabi-sabi living room accent or shelf display; desktop organizer or ring dish; unique gift for tea ceremony enthusiasts and collectors
• Features: Squat pillow-shaped stoneware body; deep black glaze with warm russet and mottled amber drip markings at shoulder and rim; unglazed buff stoneware foot ring; flat ivory-style lid with lathe-turned concentric rings and small central knob; matching red-orange shippo-patterned brocade silk shifuku bag with twisted purple drawstring cord
• Dimensions: 3 1/4"Diameter x 1 3/4"H
• Condition: Excellent

A complete and captivating piece of vintage Japanese tea ceremony craft -- the chaire, lid, and brocade shifuku bag together embody the wabi-sabi aesthetic that has defined Japanese vintage collecting for generations.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All vintage items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.