Incense case with chrysanthemum plant motif in maki-e

Uematsu Hobi
Incense case with chrysanthemum branch and bird design in inlaid mother of pearl and maki-e

This box is a modern version of the lacquerware with densely sprinkled gold powder and inlaid mother of pearl fashionable from the Heian to the Kamakura periods. It was inspired by the “Lacquer inkstone case with chrysanthemums in inlaid mother of pearl and maki-e design” (National Treasure) handed down by the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine. Uematsu Hōbi (1872-1933) is known for studying classic works and working in a style that gave them new interpretations.

Taguchi Yoshikuni
Incense case with spiral motif in maki-e

Taguchi Yoshikuni (1923-1998) was one of the leaders in the world of modern and contemporary lacquerware.

Kinkozan Sobei
Incense case with human figures in overglaze enamels

The entire surface of this incense case was covered in dark cobalt blue glaze. In the center of the lid we see a chic man and woman enjoying the cherry blossoms; they have been rendered in overglaze enamels and gold pigment. Branches of wisteria and peony flowers occupy the underside of the lid and the center of the body of the case. The Kinkozan family of potters was based in Kyoto. During the Meiji period, work by its seventh-generation head, Kinkozan Sobei, earned high praise at exhibitions in Japan and abroad.

Itaya Hazan
Plum blossom incense case

Itaya Hazan (1872-1963) was a ceramic artist who, studying Art Nouveau and classic Oriental ceramics, created his own elegantly beautiful style. The magnificent color that this glaze with crackles developed reveals the results of Hazan’s research on Chinese ceramics.

Fujita Kyohei
Fun-shaped incense case with gold and platinum pigments

Fujita Kyohei (1921-2004) was a leading glass artist in the postwar period. Fascinate by Rimpa school arts and crafts, he is known for his Kazaribako (ornamented box) series, with scattered gold and silver foil, expressing themes from waka poetry and other classic literature. This work’s roughly torn gold and silver foil and the overlapping white and purple colors make on think of Yamato-e paintings on gold grounds.