A small glossy ceramic jar with a rounded body and a light-colored lid, shown on a neutral textured surface against a plain light background.
A small rectangular product box with a pale sage green lid and a white lower section, shown standing upright on a textured surface against a plain light background. A barcode label with Japanese text is printed on the front.

Chaire with Botan Karakusa Shifuku & Purple Cord – Koicha Matcha Caddy

$88.00

Distinctive-Form Cha-ire with Botan Karakusa Shifuku & Purple Cord

A distinctive Japanese Cha-ire (茶入) with an expressive, sculptural form, accompanied by a woven shifuku (仕覆) featuring the traditional Botan Karakusa (牡丹唐草) pattern and an elegant purple cord.

Unlike more standardized cha-ire forms, this piece is characterized by its individual silhouette and subtle irregularity. Its sculptural shape invites appreciation from different angles, allowing the form, glaze, and natural variations of the ceramic surface to become part of its character.

A cha-ire is traditionally used to hold matcha for the preparation of koicha (thick tea) and holds an important place among the utensils selected for Chanoyu.

Botan Karakusa Shifuku

The accompanying shifuku features Botan Karakusa (牡丹唐草), a classical decorative pattern combining peony blossoms with gracefully scrolling vines.

The botan (牡丹), or peony, has long been admired in East Asian art for its magnificent blossoms and is traditionally associated with prosperity, nobility, and good fortune.

Karakusa (唐草) is a flowing arabesque pattern of continuously extending vines and leaves. Because the vines appear to grow without end, karakusa has traditionally been regarded as an auspicious symbol of continuity, vitality, and lasting prosperity.

Together, the peony and scrolling-vine motifs create a rich and elegant pattern with auspicious meaning.

The shifuku is made from koshoku (交織), a woven textile combining different types of fibers, and is finished with a purple cord. The deep purple adds a refined accent to the textile and gives the cha-ire an especially distinguished presentation.

In Chanoyu, the shifuku is more than simply a protective pouch. Its textile, pattern, colors, and cord are all considered part of the aesthetic presentation of the cha-ire and can be appreciated together with the ceramic vessel itself.

The expressive form of the cha-ire paired with the richly patterned Botan Karakusa shifuku creates a beautiful balance between ceramic craftsmanship and traditional Japanese textile design.

A refined choice for koicha, chakai, and formal Chanoyu settings, as well as for collectors of Japanese tea ceramics and traditional textiles.

Details

  • Type: Cha-ire (茶入)

  • Form: Distinctive / Sculptural Form

  • Use: Koicha / Thick Tea

  • Includes: Shifuku (仕覆)

  • Shifuku Textile: Koshoku (交織) – Blended Woven Textile

  • Shifuku Pattern: Botan Karakusa (牡丹唐草) – Peony & Arabesque

  • Cord: Purple

  • Made in Japan

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