Accession Number
1954/1.567A&B

Title
Two shifuku (silk pouches) for Tea Caddy "Hitorine" (1954/1.532)

Artist(s)
Japanese

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
circa 1600-1647

Medium & Support
silk

Dimensions
3 11/16 in. x 2 13/16 in. x 2 13/16 in. ( 9.3 cm x 7.2 cm x 7.2 cm )

Credit Line
Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker

Label copy
Chairé (tea caddies) are used to store finely ground tea powder. Usually made of dark clay and glazes without ostentatious decorations, tea caddies are highly prized in the wabi tea ceremony, in which simplicity and a refined rusticity are cultivated and often contrasted with more opulent styles. The culture of wabi was widespread among the samurai class and was often marked by an intricate layering of materials, meanings, and both visual and literary puns.
The two beautiful shifuku (silk pouches) here are prized pieces of art and would have been presented along with the tea caddy at a ceremony. The layers of boxes, bags, and authenticating certificates accompanying this small caddy attest to the reverence in which it was held by successive generations of owners. This caddy was selected and given a proper name, “Hitorine,” by one of the most influential tea masters of the time, Kobori Enshû (1579–1647). “Hitorine,” which means “sleeping alone,” derives from a poem by Kobori, which itself contains a likely reference to a famous classical love poem.
(Label for UMMA Japanese Gallery Opening Rotation, March 2009)

Subject matter
Shifuku or pouches for tea caddies are displayed during the tea ceremony. A cherished tea caddy might have several shifuku made of expensive imported fabrics. The striped fabric of shifuku here is called "Iyo sudare donsu," made in China in Ming Period (1368-1644); it was used for at least two other tea caddies named/owned by Kobori Enshû. The fabric with whirlpool patterns of other shifuku has been also used for other well known tea caddies.

Physical Description
Two small pouches for tea caddy. The striped pouch is woven with light brown, dark-green, light-green and dark blue warp threads and light brown weft threads in satin weave, which create stripe, plaid and treasure ("takara") patterns. The round pouch has two side slits for easy opening; a purple cord is inserted through the mouth of the pouch for tying.
Another pouch has whirlpool patterns created with the same satin weave using brown warp threads and light blue, white, and blue weft threads. The weft threads create the staggered, whirlpool patterns. This pouch also has two side slits and tied with light brown color cord at the top.

Primary Object Classification
Textile

Primary Object Type
tea caddy pouch

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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