Chinese-style charcoal basket (sumikago) for the Way of Tea

杉木普斎共箱　唐物写炭籠

This early charcoal basket would have been used in a tearoom during a tea gathering. It would have held the charcoal in the hearth under the hot-water kettle. This basket is said to have been owned by a well-known author and tea master whose teacher was the grandson of legendary tea master Sen Rikyu (1522–1591).