Provenance
Masuda Don’ō
Dimensions
Height: 3.5 cm
Mouth Diameter: 6.7–8.4 cm
Weight: 60 g
This incense container features crane-motif mother-of-pearl inlay, overall thunder-pattern maki-e, and elongated corners with tin edging. Both the underside of the lid and the interior of the body, including the tray attachment, are adorned with chrysanthemum maki-e, making it truly exquisite.
It is also very old. By historical standards, it would likely be classified as a “Hogen period” piece, considered the pinnacle of maki-e craftsmanship in its era. Pieces from this period are exceedingly rare.
In the early days of the tea ceremony, only Chinese lacquer incense boxes were appreciated. However, around the beginning of the Tokugawa period, tea masters who learned of the existence of such masterpieces actively adopted them as incense boxes for tea.
This incense box was once one of the cosmetic tools of the nobility and is also a treasure worthy of appreciation as a characteristic of Japanese art.
Such pieces, being so old, with no major flaws, and well-preserved, are exceedingly rare.
It is well known that Masuda Don’o cherished this piece for many years, calling it a masterpiece among maki-e incense boxes and treasuring it as a jewel in his possession.
Crane Design with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay, Long Rectangular, Base
