Conservation Cart Talk | Caring for Japanese Tea Utensils

It’s not every day that a museum cares for a collection still actively used in traditional tea practice—an exciting opportunity that also raises unique conservation questions.

Join art conservator Ellen Chase, along with curatorial assistant and tea practitioner Ayumi Nelson, to explore how we preserve Japanese tea utensils we use in tea gatherings (such as the upcoming chanoyu presentation). Learn how this compares to the way we treat utensils intended for display.

Examine sample ceramic and lacquer pieces, and get a feel for the conservation materials involved—from sponges and swabs to adhesives and pigments. Afterwards, step inside the exhibition Reasons to Gather to explore related tea objects on display.
Image: National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution