Chago or tea scoop for sencha tea ceremony, made from a section of bamboo with a diagonal node pattern and carved with a snail motif. Signed below the snail with an incised signature by the artist: Tessai To or Carved by Tessai (Kano Tessai, 1845 – 1925). With original repair of by Hayakawa Shokosai III (1864 – 1922) in the form of a butterfly knot (cho-musubi) in rattan. Late Meiji – Taisho era, circa 1890 – 1920.

With the tomobako or original box, inscribed on the exterior of the lid: Butsu Men Chiku Senbai or Tortoise Shell Bamboo Tea Scoop; and on the reverse of the lid with an inscription, signature and seal by the artist, Kano Tessai. Then on the left side is written: Homaki Sansei Shokosai or Repaired by Shokosai III, and sealed.

Kano Tessai was born in Gifu, the son of a netsuke carver. After studying Chinese literature and painting, he became a professional painter and sculptor. In 1890, Tessai became a professor at the Tokyo Art School, dividing his time between Tokyo and Nara where he lived. Stylistically, his work reflects his literati background with a feeling for age and a freedom of expression that favored improvisation. So for example, he created numbers of netsuke in the form of old masks, complete with details of flaking pigment and old losses to convey a feeling of wabi and the transience of life.

With this chago, Tessai again works on a miniature scale to painterly effect. He carves the snail as if painting with a brush. A humorous swirling effect almost like a whirlpool details the shell, while the track of the knife creates a grey contrast with the rich, satin skin of the smoked bamboo. Below the snail a crack in the bamboo suggests the track of the snail, consciously made prominent by the use of an ornamental knot that ties it together. For this Tessai turned to his friend the bamboo basketry artist, Shokosai III, as if to say the piece is only more beautiful and treasured for being cracked. Both men were prominent artists in Kansai sencha circles.