A great masterpiece. A tea caddy made in Chinese. The “Chadenkiroku” (Tea Biographies) says, “The name of this tea caddy is said to be derived from the tamagaki of the Ise Shrine. The “Matsuya Nikki” (Diary of Matsuya) says, “Tamagaki, Shuko Bunrin, and Hamuro Bunrin, these three are hidden in the world. The kuchizukuri is thick, with a shallow twist-back, and extremely light hand-holding. The overall body is dark persimmon color with a light persimmon color on the body, and there is a single spot of fire beneath it. The space between the shoulder and the body tends to be glazed in black, and it is interesting to see a glimpse of persimmon color in the glaze. It is a piece that should be appreciated by Wabicha (Wabi-teachers), as it has infinite charm in its irregularity. It was originally owned by Yucho Somimori, a Sakai man, and was handed down to Oda Yuraku, Toyotomi Hideyori (1612- ), Tokugawa Ieyasu, Yorinobu, the founder of the Kii domain, and Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (1701- ), and has been kept in the Tokugawa Soke’s warehouse ever since. (Tozan Gomotsu Nai-betsu-cho, Tensho Meimono Ki, Chaden Kiroku, Chakki Meimono Shu, Matsuya Nikki, Yamakami Soji Chadan, Komeimono Ki, Ganmon Meimono Ki, Kokin Meimono Ruiju, Rimpo Kameryu, Taisho Meiki Kan, etc.)
