Incense Container Hagi Ware Pine Cone Incense Container by Yoshimura Tōen

The scales lie close together, cut by deep lines into a diamond lattice: this kōgō is modeled on a pine cone. The pale, milky glaze collects in the grooves and on the ridges, while the warm brown clay shows through on the surfaces between them. This creates the lively interplay of white and rust brown that belongs to the character of Hagi ware.

Hagi, in present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture, has for centuries been among the pottery towns prized by tea masters, and tea utensils from there thrive on their soft, unobtrusive clay. The container is intended for nerikō, kneaded incense made from finely ground fragrant materials, and is used in the tea ceremony. Inside, it shows two entirely different faces: the lid remains unglazed and sand-colored, while the base holds a dark, glossy hollow. The rims of the halves have been left irregular, so that they fit together exactly in only one position.

The handmade container from the Shōwa period measures 8.5 × 5 cm and weighs 144 g. The wooden box bears the inscription Hagi-yaki Kōgō, a signature and a red stamp; the piece is attributed to Yoshimura Tōen. An orange cloth and a leaflet are included.