Sencha tea box, Ifugao rice basket, 16th-19th century

The Ifugao people live in the mountainous region of northern Luzon in the Philippines. Luzon is a major rice-producing region and is also known for its beautiful rice terraces. During the Edo period, vases traded in exchange for Japanese silver were called Luzon vases and were highly valued by tea masters of the time. This is a well-used amber-colored tea basket that was originally made as a rice basket.