Provenance
Himeji, Sakai Family ― Nezu Museum
Dimensions
Height: 5.0 cm
Mouth Diameter: 4.7–4.9 cm
Body Diameter: 6.2 cm
Base Diameter: 3.1 cm
Weight: 848 g
Owner
Nezu Museum, Tokyo
While the Nezu-style incense container is generally known for its flat, square base, this treasure sphere is unique, with no known counterparts.
True to its name, it is tall and perfectly spherical, embodying the essence of a treasure sphere.
The yellow glaze, known as “tanban-yu,” covers the entire piece. From the apex, the tanban glaze softly envelops the object, appearing to seep inward as well, showcasing the unique appearance of yellow Seto glaze.
For a long time, tea masters were unaware of this incense container’s existence. However, during the Taisho era, it was transferred from the Sakai family of Himeji to Aoyama of the Nezu family. When it appeared at a tea ceremony, it immediately gained renown among tea masters.
It is said to be the finest among the national treasures of incense containers.
While it is commonly believed that Seto incense containers generally originated with Oribe ware, if Rikyu’s collection were to be revealed to the world, this piece would undoubtedly be considered the pioneer.
