The Iris is a traditional spring flower in Japanese art, being used here to represent that season in Tsuge's Botanicals series. It's actually a little surprising that Tsuge would use the Iris to denote spring rather than the much revered, and more commonly associated with spring in Japanese art, cherry blossom. Either way, the Iris serves as a beautiful motif for this Urushi finished piece.
Tusge's Urushi pipes are finished in the manner traditional to this art-form, an extremely labor-intensive, time-consuming technique the origins of which date back to the prehistoric Jomon period. Each pipe of this special series also includes its own lacquered bamboo tamper.
-- Sykes Wilford
