Dimensions
Height: 3.4 cm
Mouth diameter: 11.4–12.0 cm
Owner
Hatakeyama Memorial Museum, Tokyo
Karatsu ware pieces made specifically as incense containers are exceedingly rare.
This incense container, even among Karatsu ware, appears to have been consciously crafted with its intended use in mind, likely appealing to the tastes of tea practitioners.
A large maple leaf is boldly formed, powerfully carved, and overlaid with a white glaze like white flowers, applied like light snow, creating a truly majestic scene.
It is a rare piece reminiscent of the style of Kenzan.
Karatsu incense boxes date back to the Bunroku era, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi had them fired while stationed at Nagoya. The author has seen one such piece.
It is a paulownia-patterned box in the shape of a basket, and these are thought to be the earliest examples of Karatsu incense containers. Only a few subsequent examples exist.
As there are no other notable pieces, this one is presented as representative of Karatsu incense containers.
