Set of Utensils for the Tea Ceremony

Art Historical Context

Kubo Shunman's *Set of Utensils the Tea Ceremony* (1810s) is a delicate woodblock known as a *surimono*, a, privately commissioned format popular in Japan's Edo period (1615–1868). just 5 7/16 x 7 1/4 inches, this intimate work captures the refined tools of *chanoyu*, the Japanese tea ceremony—ladles, whisks, and containers—adorned with blooming flowers that evoke seasonal beauty and impermanence. Shunman, a master of ukiyo-e printmaking, blended poetry and artistry in these bespoke pieces, often produced for New Year's greetings or poetry circles. Surimono like this one stand out for their superior craftsmanship: vibrant inks, subtle colors, and sometimes embossed effects on fine paper, making them collector's treasures rather than mass-produced images. During the Edo era, the tea ceremony embodied Zen principles of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility (*wa, kei, sei, jaku*), transforming everyday utensils into symbols of spiritual ritual. Flowers in the design highlight *wabi-sabi* aesthetics—celebrating nature's fleeting elegance. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's H. O. Havemeyer Collection, this print offers a window into 19th-century Japan's cultured elite, where art and ceremony intertwined to foster mindfulness amid urban bustle. A perfect gem for contemplating simplicity's profound depth.

About the Artist

Kubo Shunman 窪俊満 (Japanese) · 1757 –1820

Japanese, 1757–1820