Set of Utensils for the Tea Ceremony - Kubo Shunman

A refined woodblock print by Kubo Shunman depicting traditional tea ceremony utensils and a flowering camellia branch, characteristic of the Edo period surimono style.

This woodblock print by Kubo Shunman captures the quietude of the Japanese tea ceremony. As a master of the surimono genre, Shunman produced these private, commissioned works for poetry circles and connoisseurs. The composition features a selection of tea implements, including a tea bowl, a whisk, and a container, arranged alongside a flowering camellia branch. The inclusion of calligraphy suggests this print was likely created for a poetry gathering, where the visual imagery and the accompanying verses would be appreciated in tandem.

The artist employs a delicate line quality and a muted palette, which aligns with the aesthetic of wabi-sabi, finding beauty in simplicity and the passage of time. The camellia, with its soft pink petals and dark green leaves, provides a natural counterpoint to the man-made ceramic and bamboo utensils. Shunman demonstrates his skill in balancing negative space, allowing the viewer to focus on the textures of the objects and the fluidity of the brush-written text. The print reflects the refined taste of the Edo period, where the tea ceremony functioned as a social and artistic ritual.

Technically, the work displays the high level of craftsmanship associated with surimono, featuring subtle colour gradations and precise registration. The paper texture remains visible, adding to the tactile quality of the image. This piece offers a glimpse into the cultural life of late eighteenth and early nineteenth-century Japan, where art, literature, and domestic ritual converged. It is a study in restraint, focusing on the essential elements of a tea gathering without unnecessary ornamentation. The print remains a representative example of Shunman's ability to elevate everyday objects into a poetic arrangement, inviting contemplation of the season and the specific moment of the ceremony.