A Great Named Tea Caddy of Nara Merchants
The Chinese Katatsuki Tea Caddy, known as Matsuya (唐物肩衝茶入〈銘松屋〉) is a Southern Song Chinese tea caddy with squared shoulders, held by the Nezu Museum in Minami-Aoyama, Minato City, Tokyo, which in 1959 was designated an Important Cultural Property.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a single piece with a mouth 4.8 centimetres across, a body 8.9 centimetres across and a height of 7.8 centimetres.
The Agency explains that it passed from Ashikaga Yoshimasa through Murata Juko and Furuichi Harima-no-kami Sumitane to the Matsuya Genzaburo family of Nara, whose name it bears.
Form and Glaze
According to the Agency, the rim is turned back, the shoulders are square, the body swells round with a single incised line around the middle, and the base was cut from a board.
The body clay is pale grey-brown under a thin dark brown glaze, which turns yellow-brown where it overlaps on the shoulder and body.
What to Look For
The Agency notes that, with Hatsuhana and Aburaya, it has been prized as one of the great named Chinese tea caddies, recorded in famous tea diaries such as those of Matsuya Hisashige and Kamiya Sotan.
Designated with it are pouches chosen by Juko, Rikyu, Oribe and Enshu, and a black lacquer case and tray, showing how successive tea masters added their own pouches.
Visiting the Chinese Katatsuki Tea Caddy, known as Matsuya
The caddy is held by the Nezu Museum and is not always on display; check the museum's exhibition schedule.
Q&A
- When was the Matsuya caddy designated?
- On 18 December 1959.
- Where does the name Matsuya come from?
- The Matsuya Genzaburo family of Nara, who kept it for generations.
- How was it handed down?
- From Ashikaga Yoshimasa through Murata Juko and Furuichi Sumitane to the Matsuya family.
- How big is it?
- 4.8 cm at the mouth, 8.9 cm across the body and 7.8 cm high.
- What is designated with it?
- Pouches chosen by Juko, Rikyu, Oribe and Enshu, and a lacquer case and tray.
Basic Information
| Name | Chinese Katatsuki Tea Caddy, known as Matsuya (唐物肩衝茶入〈銘松屋〉) |
|---|---|
| Location | Nezu Museum, 6-5-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato City, Tokyo |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (craft) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1959/12/18 (Showa 34) |
| Quantity | 1 piece |
| Dimensions | Mouth 4.8 cm, body 8.9 cm, height 7.8 cm |
| Owner | Nezu Museum |
| Public Access | Check display dates with the museum |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Matsuya Katatsuki Tea Caddy (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/201/6742
- Cultural Heritage Online: Matsuya Katatsuki Tea Caddy (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/154798
Last verified: 2026.09.28