Provenance
Furuta Oribe Yabuuchi Family
Dimensions
Height: 3.9 cm
Mouth Diameter: 3.8 cm
Body Diameter: 5.5–5.3 cm
Weight: 71 g
This incense container features a round lid, half of which is glazed in blue. On the other half, four dumplings are painted in iron pigment over a white glaze, depicted as if skewered on a stick.
Originally, Oribe’s paintings were said to hold interest precisely because their subjects were unclear, possessing an elegant and ethereal charm. Moreover, the way the base is split like a tripod creates an indescribably interesting form.
Furuta Oribe carried this incense container, which he had attempted to fire, in his sleeve and presented it to his sister’s husband, Yabuuchi Shōchi, and it has been passed down in that family.
Although not included as an illustration in the Haji no Maki, the “Hiki no Kōgō” (Plucked Incense Container) is also thought to be a work from around the same period.
Generally, Oribe incense boxes seem to have been shaped on a whim, lacking uniformity. Their names varied according to the tea master’s preference, so they cannot be classified as formal pieces. Yet, one cannot help but admire the truly exquisite forms each one embodies. It is precisely here that Furuta Oribe’s sensibility is revealed, making it truly fascinating. This is why these ceramics are so highly praised.
