In the world of chanoyu, the special words 'konomi' and 'konomu' are used. For example, when a tea practitioner has a utensil made to his design by a craftsman, that utensil is called 'so-and-so's konomi'. There are many examples, among the different kinds of utensils, of the tea practitioner's unique design being conveyed to the craftsman who understands what he wants and uses his technical skill to bring it into being. It could be said that the combination of the creativity of the tea practitioner and the skill of the craftsman is part of the background of the tea utensil.
Also, even to the present day at the Iemoto, there are 'komomimono' being made by families of craftsmen (called 'shokka' ). In order to make the Iemoto's 'konomimono', the craftsmen from these families gather at Omotesenke at the beginning of each month, and after greeting the Iemoto drink a bowl of thin tea together in a hiroma (large tea room). During this time they hear the Iemoto's ideas or talk about what they think are the good and bad points of utensils that they are handling. Many 'konomimono' are the result of these casual conversations. Most of the Iemoto's 'konomimono' which are produced in this way are reproduced and handed down, and so are used today in many tea rooms and practice rooms.
By the way, 'konomimono' do not stop at utensils, but are found throughout the whole world of chanoyu. For example, there are 'konomimono' in the various styles of tea room and in the sweets used for tea gatherings. 'Konomimono' are an expression in chanoyu of the aesthetic consciousness of the tea practitioner and a design that arises from a way of life.