Home > Art Collections > Japanese Tea Ceremony Utensils > Tea Caddies (Chaire)


Chaire 茶入 or koicha-ki 濃茶器 (caddies for thick tea)

Chaire are containers for thick tea used in the tea ceremony. They are typically ceramic ware and have a number of traditional shapes—see Chaki Types and Styles for a partial listing.

For more information see JAANUS: chaire or Chado Encyclopedia: Chaire. For a partial listing of ceramic styles see Selected Types of Japanese Ceramic Ware.

Scroll down or click on any of the tumbnails to go directly to that item.
chaire_1980 (592K) Oketani_Teiichi_chaire (448K) Oshio_Masato_chaire (141K) Nakamura_Toroku_kyoyaki_chaire (141K) Takatori_Bunchin_chaire (204K) Kyoyaki_Nasu_chaire (137K) Zeze_chaire_nasu (169K) Kyoei_Bizen_chaire (185K) Seigan_Yamane_blue_Hagi_chaire (185K) Ko-Setoyaki_chaire (108K) Shinsui_Tanbayaki_chaire (129K) Toho_bizen_chaire (118K)
Imari_shiteki (103K) Nakamura_Gensui_shiteki (92K) Ki-Seto_chaire (156K) Yoshiga_Taiga_hagi_chaire (150K) Kyoyaki_Tsurukubi_chaire (126K) Kakumu_Mitsuru_glass_chaire (221K) Kaneko_Nobuhiko_chaire_Hagi (145K)


chaire_1980 (592K) Creator: 豊山.
Creator: Toyoyama.
Description: ceramic tea caddy with an orange and blue pattern; signed on the bottom; hyōtan (gourd) shape; accompanied by tomobako (wooden storage box).
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: height 4 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Signature on the bottom:
chaire_1980_sig (465K) 		Tomobako:
chaire_1980_box (101K)
Tomobako lid:
chaire_1980_box_sig (634K)
Oketani_Teiichi_chaire (448K) Creator: 桶谷定一.
Creator: Oketani Tei'ichi.
Description: Kyoto ware chaire with a rich orange-brown glaze; zōge lid with gold foil on the bottom; with silk tea caddy bag (shifuku 仕服); daikai ("great ocean" i.e. wide mouth) shape; with signed tomobako.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: width 1.9 in., height 2 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Interior:
Oketani_ Teiichi_chaire_interior (268K) 		Bottom of chaire and lid:
Oketani_eiichi_chaire_bottom (471K)
Shifuku:
Oketani_Teiichi_chaire_shifuku (286K) 		Tomobako lid:
Oketani_Teiichi_tomobako (1482K)
Oshio_Masato_chaire (141K) Creator: 大塩正人.
Creator: Ōshio Masando.
Description: glazed akahada ware tea caddy and zōge lid with gold foil on the bottom; katatsuki (high shouldered)shape; with silk tea caddy bag (shifuku 仕服); signed tomobako.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: width 2 in., height 3.2 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.

Photo of potter: Oshio_Masando (33K)
Side view:
Oshio_Masato_chaire_side (158K) 		Interior:
Oshio_Masato_chaire_interior (167K)
Top view:
Oshio_Masato_chaire_top (160K) 		Mark on base:
Oshio_Masato_chaire_mark (145K)
Shifuku:
Oshio_Masato_chaire_shifuku (161K) 		Tomobako lid:
Oshio_Masato_chaire_tomobako (133K)
Nakamura_Toroku_kyoyaki_chaire (141K) Creator: 中村陶六.
Creator: Nakamura Toroku.
Description: glazed Kyoto ware tea caddy with lid; katatsuki (high shouldered) shape; with silk tea caddy bag (shifuku 仕服)and mark on base.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: diameter 2.2 in., height 2.9 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Side view:
Nakamura_Toroku_kyoyaki_chaire_side (129K) 		Detail:
Nakamura_Toroku_kyoyaki_chaire_detail (161K)
Top view:
Nakamura_Toroku_kyoyaki_chaire_top (160K) 		Mark on base: 陶六.
Nakamura_Toroku_kyoyaki_chaire_mark (136K)
Shifuku:
Nakamura_Toroku_kyoyaki_chaire_shifuku (161K) 		Bottom:
Nakamura_Toroku_kyoyaki_chaire_bottom (158K)
Takatori_Bunchin_chaire (204K) Creator.Corporate Name: 高取喜恵.
Creator.Corporate Name: Takatori kiln.
Description: glazed Takatori ware* tea caddy with lid; bunrin (apple) shape; with silk tea caddy bag (shifuku 仕服)and tomobako.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: diameter 2.7 in., height 2.7 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.

* See A Brief History of Takatori Ware.
Side view:
Takatori_Bunchin_chaire_side (183K) 		Bottom:
Takatori_Bunchin_chaire_bottom (176K)
Interior:
Takatori_Bunchin_chaire_interior (190K) 		Detail:
Takatori_Bunchin_chaire_tomobako (161K)
Kyoyaki_Nasu_chaire (137K) Creator.Name: Unknown.
Description: glazed Kyoto ware tea caddy with lid; nasu (eggplant) shape; with silk tea caddy bag (shifuku 仕服)
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: diameter 2.6 in., height 2.9 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Side view:
Kyoyaki_Nasu_chaire_side (130K) 		Side view:
Kyoyaki_Nasu_chaire_side2 (122K)
Interior:
Kyoyaki_Nasu_chaire_interior (150K) 		Detail:
Kyoyaki_Nasu_chaire_detail (168K)
Top view:
Kyoyaki_Nasu_chaire_top (127K) 		Shifuku:
Kyoyaki_Nasu_chaire_shifuku (202K)
Zeze_chaire_nasu (169K) Creator.Name: Unknown.
Description: glazed Zeze ware 膳所焼 (Shiga) tea caddy with lid; nasu (eggplant) shape; with silk tea caddy bag (shifuku 仕服)
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: diameter 2.5 in., height 2.8 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Side view:
Zeze_chaire_nasu_side (170K) 		Top view:
Zeze_chaire_nasu_top (179K)
Interior:
Zeze_chaire_nasu_interior (193K) 		Detail:
Zeze_chaire_nasu_detail (217K)
Mark:
Zeze_chaire_nasu_mark (209K) 		Shifuku:
Zeze_chaire_nasu_shifuku (169K)
Kyoei_Bizen_chaire (185K) Creator.Name Personal: 共栄.
Creator.Name Personal: Kyoei.
Description: Bizen ware tea caddy with lid; soft "shoulders" shape; with tomobako.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: diameter 2.4 in., height 3.1 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Side view:
Kyoei_Bizen_chaire_side (164K) 		Top view:
Kyoei_Bizen_chaire_top (213K)
Interior:
Kyoei_Bizen_chaire_interior (191K) 		Mark:
Kyoei_Bizen_chaire_mark (228K)
Tomobako:
Kyoei_Bizen_chaire_tomobako (211K) 		Signature & seal on tomobako:
Kyoei_Bizen_chaire_tomobako_sig (308K)
Seigan_Yamane_blue_Hagi_chaire (185K) Creator.Personal Name: 清玩山根, 1952-
Creator.Personal Name: Seigan Yamane, 1952-
Description: Hagi ware tea caddy with ceramic lid; burin (apple) shape; with tomobako.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: diameter 3.15 in., height 3.35 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.

Photo of the potter:
Seigan_Yamane_photo (60K)
Side view:
Seigan_Yamane_blue_Hagi_chaire_side1 (185K) 		Side view:
Seigan_Yamane_blue_Hagi_chaire_side2 (184K)
Interior:
Seigan_Yamane_blue_Hagi_chaire_interior (152K) 		Bottom & mark:
Seigan_Yamane_blue_Hagi_chaire_bottom_mark (166K)
Detail:
Seigan_Yamane_blue_Hagi_chaire_detail1 (161K) 		Detail:
Seigan_Yamane_blue_Hagi_chaire_detail2 (166K)
Detail:
Seigan_Yamane_blue_Hagi_chaire_detail3 (143K) 		Tomobako:
Seigan_Yamane_blue_Hagi_chaire_tomobako (148K)
Ko-Setoyaki_chaire (108K) Creator.Personal Name: 龍村.
Creator.Personal Name: Tatsumura.
Description: Ko-Seto-yaki tea caddy with lid; katatsuki ("shoulders" at the top) shape; with shifuku and tomobako.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: diameter 1.8 in., height 3.5 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Side view:
Ko-Setoyaki_chaire_side1 (108K) 		Top view:
Ko-Setoyaki_chaire_top (135K)
Interior:
Ko-Setoyaki_chaire_interior (101K) 		Mark:
Ko-Setoyaki_chaire_mark (124K)
Detail:
Ko-Setoyaki_chaire_detail (134K) 		Bottom:
Ko-Setoyaki_chaire_bottom (113K)
Shifuku:
Ko-Setoyaki_chaire_shifuku (162K) 		Tomobako lid:
Ko-Setoyaki_chaire_tomobako_lid (202K)
Shinsui_Tanbayaki_chaire (129K) Creator.Personal Name: 信水.
Creator.Personal Name: Shinsui.
Description: Tanba-yaki tea caddy with lid; katatsuki ("shoulders" at the top) shape; mark on bottom: Shinsui 信水 on bottom; with shifuku and signed tomobako.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: diameter 2 in., height 3.3 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Side view:
Shinsui_Tanbayaki_chaire_side1 (128K) 		Side view:
Shinsui_Tanbayaki_chaire_side2 (130K)
Interior:
Shinsui_Tanbayaki_chaire_interior (99K) 		Mark—Shinsui 信水:
Shinsui_Tanbayaki_chaire_mark (139K)
Top view:
Ko-Setoyaki_chaire_top (135K) 		Shifuku:
Shinsui_Tanbayaki_chaire_shifuku (172K)
Tomobako lid:
Shinsui_Tanbayaki_chaire_tomobako_lid (207K)
Toho_bizen_chaire (118K) Creator.Personal Name: 東峰.
Creator.Personal Name: Tōhō.
Description: unglazed Bizen-yaki tea caddy with lid; daikai ("big ocean") shape; mark on bottom: Tōhō 東峰 on bottom; with shifuku.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: diameter 3.3 in., height 2.2 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Side view:
Toho_bizen_chaire_side1 (111K) 		Side view:
Toho_bizen_chaire_side2 (109K)
Bottom:
Toho_bizen_chaire_bottom (182K) 		Mark:
Toho_bizen_chaire_mark (151K)
Shifuku:
Toho_bizen_chaire_shifuku (190K)
Imari_shiteki_a (94K)
Imari_shiteki_b (96K) 		Creator: Unknown.
Description: Imari ware porcelain shiteki (set of four tea caddies with a common lid); blue underglaze paintings of bamboo, chrysanthemum, orchid, and plum blossom; unidentified mark on bottom.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: vary.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Suiteki:
Imari_shiteki_suiteki (136K) 		Tegame:
Imari_shiteki_tegame (116K)
Tsurutsuki:
Imari_shiteki_tsurutsuki (96K) 		Yuteki:
Imari_shiteki_yuteki (142K)
Interior:
Imari_shiteki_interior1 (106K) 		Bottom:
Imari_shiteki_bottom1 (89K)
Mark:
Imari_shiteki_mark (81K)
Nakamura_Gensui_shiteki_a (101K)
Nakamura_Gensui_shiteki_b (104K) 		Creator.Personal Name: 中村源水, 1951-
Creator.Personal Name: Nakamura Gensui, 1951-
Description: Kyoto ware ceramic shiteki (set of four tea caddies with a common lid); with tomobako.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: vary.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Suiteki:
Nakamura_Gensui_shiteki_suiteki (173K) 		Side view:
Nakamura_Gensui_shiteki_suiteki_side (166K)
Tegame:
Nakamura_Gensui_shiteki_tegame (148K) 		Side view:
Nakamura_Gensui_shiteki_tegame_side (156K)
Tsurutsuki:
Nakamura_Gensui_shiteki_tsurutsuki (114K) 		Side view:
Nakamura_Gensui_shiteki_tsurutsuki_side (109K)
Yuteki:
Nakamura_Gensui_shiteki_yuteki (156K) 		Side view:
Nakamura_Gensui_shiteki_yuteki_side (162K)
Interior:
Nakamura_Gensui_shiteki_interior (203K) 		Bottom:
Nakamura_Gensui_shiteki_bottom (191K)
Tomobako lid:
Nakamura_Gensui_shiteki_tomobako_lid (233K)
Ki-Seto_chaire (156K) Creator.Personal Name: Unknown.
Description: Ki-Seto ware ceramic tea caddy; katatsuki shape with softer less pronounced "shoulders" than usual; unmarked.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: diameter 1.9 in., height 2.5 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Side view:
Ki-Seto_chaire_side1 (150K) 		Side view:
Ki-Seto_chaire_side2 (167K)
Interior:
Ki-Seto_chaire_interior (148K) 		Bottom:
Ki-Seto_chaire_bottom (156K)
Yoshiga_Taiga_hagi_chaire (150K) Creator.Personal Name: 吉賀大雅, 1882-1960.
Creator.Personal Name: Yoshiga Taiga, 1882-1960.
Description: drip glazed Hagi ware ceramic tea caddy; shiribukura shape; marked on bottom; with signed tomobako.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: diameter 2.9 in., height 3.1 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.

Yoshiga Taiga's son, Yoshiga Taibi 吉賀大眉 (1915-1991), was also a potter.
Side view:
Yoshiga_Taiga_hagi_chaire_side1 (147K) 		Side view:
Yoshiga_Taiga_hagi_chaire_side2 (148K)
Interior:
Yoshiga_Taiga_hagi_chaire_interior (146K) 		Top view:
Yoshiga_Taiga_hagi_chaire_top (164K)
Detail:
Yoshiga_Taiga_hagi_chaire_detail (169K) 		Mark on bottom:
Yoshiga_Taiga_hagi_chaire_mark (171K)
Tomobako:
Yoshiga_Taiga_hagi_chaire_tomobako (150K) 		Tomobako lid:
Yoshiga_Taiga_hagi_chaire_tomobako_lid (243K)
Kyoyaki_Tsurukubi_chaire (126K) Creator.Personal Name: Unidentified.
Description: drip glazed Kyoto ware ceramic tea caddy; tsurukubi shape (crane neck); marked on bottom; with shifuku.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: diameter 2.4 in., height 3.2 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Side view:
Kyoyaki_Tsurukubi_chaire_side1 (122K) 		Side view:
Kyoyaki_Tsurukubi_chaire_side2 (121K)
Interior:
Kyoyaki_Tsurukubi_chaire_interior (120K) 		Top view:
Kyoyaki_Tsurukubi_chaire_top (113K)
Bottom:
Kyoyaki_Tsurukubi_chaire_botom (157K) 		Mark on bottom:
Kyoyaki_Tsurukubi_chaire_mark (120K)
Shifuku:
Kyoyaki_Tsurukubi_chaire_shifuku (159K)
Kakumu_Mitsuru_glass_chaire (221K) Creator.Personal Name: 各務満作.
Creator.Personal Name: Kakumu Mansaku.
Description: glass tea caddy with wooden lid; signed on bottom; with tomobako.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Glassware—Japan.
Style.Period: Contemporary.
Material.Medium: glass.
Measurements: diameter 2.4 in., height 2.87 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Side view:
Kakumu_Mitsuru_glass_chaire_side1 (262K) 		Side view:
Kakumu_Mitsuru_glass_chaire_side2 (254K)
Interior:
Kakumu_Mitsuru_glass_chaire_interior (295K) 		Bottom:
Kakumu_Mitsuru_glass_chaire_bottom (295K)
Tomobako:
Kakumu_Mitsuru_glass_chaire_tomobako (132K) 		Tomobako lid:
Kakumu_Mitsuru_glass_chaire_tomobako_lid (144K)
Kaneko_Nobuhiko_chaire_Hagi (145K) Creator.Personal Name: 金子信彦, 1951-
Creator.Personal Name: Kaneko Nobuhiko, 1951-
Description: Hagi ware tea caddy with lid; seal on lower rim; with tomobako.
Subject: Japanese tea ceremony.
Subject: Tea caddies.
Subject: Pottery, Japanese.
Style.Period: Modern.
Material.Medium: ceramic (material).
Measurements: diameter 2.8 in., height 3.7 in.
Location.Current Repository: private collection, C. J. Campbell (Chicago, Ill.)
Rights: C. J. Campbell.
Record Type: work.
Side view:
Kaneko_Nobuhiko_chaire_Hagi_side1 (154K) 		Side view:
Kaneko_Nobuhiko_chaire_Hagi_side2 (157K)
Interior:
Kaneko_Nobuhiko_chaire_Hagi_interior (150K) 		Bottom:
Kaneko_Nobuhiko_chaire_Hagi_bottom (169K)
Detail:
Kaneko_Nobuhiko_chaire_Hagi_detail (191K) 		Mark:
Kaneko_Nobuhiko_chaire_Hagi_mark (134K)
Top:
Kaneko_Nobuhiko_chaire_Hagi_top (163K) 		Tomobako:
Kaneko_Nobuhiko_chaire_Hagi_tomobako (189K)
Chadōgu 茶道具 (tea ceremony tools)