This is a vintage Japanese natsume or tea caddy used in the chanoyu tea ceremony.  It holds the powdered green tea called matcha. A qualitynatsume such as this is made of turn wood, typicallyhinoki or Japanese cypress. The wood is lacquered in the traditional Japanese method with over 20 coats of urushi lacquer. This particular lacquer is deep transparent red with a bright opaque orange red on the interior. This flat top type is referred to as a "Kinrinji" and requires special handling by the host when used during the tea ceremony.   This is a beautiful example of Japanese lacquerware.

Height = 3.5“