Lidded bowl with chrysanthemums, autumn grasses | Urasenke artist, signed with kao (花押) | 19th century

The lidded bowl is used in the tea ceremony and is also determined by the elegant aesthetics of this artistic discipline. The Maki'e lacquer technique is complex and expensive in terms of material and workmanship. It has been known since the Middle Ages (Heian period 794-1185), but was mainly cultivated and further developed since the 15th century. Maki'e is a form of painting: gold dust is added to the liquid lacquer. The amount of dust determines the gold intensity of the painted subject. In this lidded bowl, not only gold but also other materials were used that enabled a gray or red color.

The motif of autumn grasses and chrysanthemums is popular in Maki'e art. Autumn is considered the most pleasant season in Japan; just the sight of these plants evokes a sense of well-being in the Japanese. In addition, the chrysanthemum is the flower of the imperial court, and this, along with another element, determines the aura of preciousness of the object. Such elegant lidded bowls are used for the fine sweets that are a central part of a tea ceremony.

Inside the lid there is a graphic abbreviation called kao. It is a type of signature that was common in the Middle Ages. Although the bowl was created in the 20th century, the intention with this signature was to evoke the sophisticated aura of "history, tradition, Middle Ages" etc.