Black Tea Caddy (Kuro natsume), from the series Five Colors of Tea Utensils (Chaki goshiki shose), with poems by Shinryuen and associates c. 1817 - 1819

Editor: So, here we have Kubo Shunman’s "Black Tea Caddy," part of the "Five Colors of Tea Utensils" series. The prints don’t have a precise date, but Shunman lived in the late 18th and early 19th century. I am intrigued by the contrast between the darkness of the caddy and the faded, dreamy colors surrounding it. What do you make of its muted palette? Curator: You know, it's interesting how Shunman uses that contrast to draw our eye. The poems also add another layer. They are collaborations, like a tea ceremony itself, a shared experience steeped in ritual and conversation. What do you think the artist trying to communicate about the tea ceremony? Editor: Maybe that it is more than just the tea itself, but the social and artistic connections it fosters? Thank you; that’s really given me a fresh perspective! Curator: Absolutely! It all comes back to the idea of finding beauty and connection in the everyday.