Tea Caddy (natsume)

During the Edo period, highly stylized motifs were common on lacquerware. Symbolic meaning took precedence over visual accuracy, and those familiar with the visual codes fully appreciated the beauty of these objects. The plovers (chidori) on this tea caddy are stylized nearly to the point of abstraction, enhancing the densely crowded flock. The migratory shorebird symbolizes perseverance and the ability to overcome obstacles, and is thus associated with the Samurai class.