Kühle Tasse / Saphir

Hida Shunkei Nuri lacquerware has a 400-year history and is characterized by the simple beauty of the natural grain of the wood, which becomes more beautiful and shiny as being used.
Drinking alchol with this cup will surely taste better than usual! Why don't you pick it up and feel the warmth of natural wood?
Please enjoy the changing expression of the lacquerware as it ages!

Width：9.8cm
Depth：9.8cm
Height：10cm
Weight：140g

Natural wood
Lacquer

NAKAYAMA URUSHI

"We want to make an everyday household item and at the same time a vessel representing Japanese culture"

We make products for daily use. Lacquerware is not a work of art, but a household item. Lacquerware can be scratched and the lacquer peels off if it is used frequently, but we still want our customers to use lacquerware every day. Even so, we want our lacquerware to be used every day, and in doing so, each piece of lacquerware takes on its own expression.

ARTISAN STORY

Nakayama Urushi
More than 40 years ago, we started producing Hida lacquerware, a traditional craft in Gifu Prefecture. They have produced many types of products such as trays, chopsticks, and tissue boxes in order to bring Hida lacquerware, a craft that has continued for more than 400 years, to as many people as possible. As the top manufacturer of Hida lacquerware, we carry on the traditional techniques with the desire to be the vessels that contribute to Japanese culture.

ACHIEVEMENTS

・Exhibited at Flame Association Trade Fair
・Exhibited at Tokyo Big Sight Tableware EXPO

HIDA SHUNKEI NURI / HIDA LACQUERWARE

About 420 years ago / 1600s / Edo Period (1603–1868)

Hida Shunkei lacquerware is traditionally traced to early seventeenth-century Takayama, where makers developed a transparent lacquer finish that celebrated rather than concealed attractive wood grain. The wooden base is colored yellow or red and coated with translucent lacquer, creating the characteristic warm clarity.

In Japan, Hida Shunkei is familiar through trays, tiered boxes and sweet containers used in both daily life and tea culture. As the transparent lacquer ages it can become clearer and brighter, revealing the grain more strongly, so owners often enjoy the object changing over many years.

Most people imagine lacquer hiding wood beneath black or vermilion. Shunkei does the opposite: the grain is the main design. The maker selects and orients boards before finishing so the best natural pattern appears in the most visible place, while the clear lacquer acts almost like a lens over the timber.

Individual Differences

As each piece is individually handcrafted, slight variations in color, pattern, shape, and texture may occur. These subtle differences are a natural characteristic of handcrafted works, making each piece truly unique. We hope you will enjoy these individual variations as part of the beauty and character of Japanese craftsmanship.

Production Time

If an item is not currently in stock, it may be made to order by the artisan. As each piece is carefully handcrafted, production may take several months depending on the item and the artisan's schedule. We appreciate your patience and understanding.