This hand-held tobacco tray, crafted at least 270 years ago, showcases the beautiful grain of the mulberry wood and has developed a deep, rich patina. It is a work of the 4th generation Risai, who excelled in the art of sashimono (joinery) and was granted the name Risai. A valuable "memorandum" detailing the circumstances of the work's creation and a letter addressed to the client remain, indicating that this piece was a bespoke order. This piece is one of a pair, made by assembling high-quality mulberry wood, and the skilled craftsmanship is evident throughout. The handles have three metal nails on each end, 18 nails on the bottom, and 24 wooden nails on the sides, all precisely driven. The bottom of each tray bears the "Ri" mark (photos ④⑤). The accompanying box is marked "Kuwata Hakofun Bon, Two Sides, Sashimono Master Risai." While the handles show some wear and tear from age (photos ⑰⑱), the overall condition is good, with no warping, and the piece is in very good condition. *Photo ⑧ is a corrected version of ⑨ for better clarity. *The "memorandum" in photo ⑩ is similar to a modern-day receipt, and the "me" at the beginning refers to the Edo period currency unit "monme." This indicates an order of 100 monme, signifying an expensive commission. *The fact that the addressee on the attached document has been cut off suggests that the client was a prominent and wealthy individual. Width: 25.6 cm, Depth: 16.7 cm, Height: 9.1 cm (box portion), 22 cm (including handle) *As this piece is almost identical in dimensions to similar works by later generations of Risai, it can be considered an authentic piece. ▢ 4th Generation Komazawa Risai Enpo 1 (1673) - Enkyo 3 (1746) Sashimono artisan. 4th generation of the Komazawa family. One of the Senke Jisshoku (Ten Craftsmen of the Sen Family). He was particularly skilled in sashimono techniques and was supported by the 6th generation Kakukakusai of the Omotesenke school, becoming a sashimono artisan for the Sen family. He was given the name Risai by Kakukakusai, and subsequent generations inherited the name. He left behind the death poem, "The craftsmanship of the object is here, always, with my aim as my pillow, the sound of the mallet." "Ate" refers to the work table, and "saizuchi" refers to a wooden mallet. 【References】 Rakkan Kao Daijiten (Dictionary of Seals and Signatures), Tankosha Senke Jisshoku (Ten Craftsmen of the Sen Family), Sekai Bunka Publishing #TeaUtensils #ChawanYaShokudo #SenkeJisshoku #TobaccoTray #TabakoBon #SashimonoMaster #KomazawaRisai #MainGuest #ThickTea #ThinTea #TeaCeremony #SennoRikyu #Omotesenke #Urasenke #MushakojiSenke #Mulberry #WoodGrain #TeaCeremony #AntiqueArt #TeaRoom #TeaGathering #Kyoto #Tea #Beauty #Art