Tea Caddy Wrap

A thin cloth made to wrap around the natsume with a stamp in the center. The stamp is likely a signature from the carver Ouchi Sosui of the So School. Beyond its utility as a container for tea powder, each natsume was an art piece, uniquely designed and painted to reflect the identity of its crafter. As a result, maintenance and preservation of natsume were of the utmost importance to both the craftsmen who made it and the hosts who purchased it. The thin cloth, like this particular one, provided another layer of protection along with the tomobako to protect the natsume.

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