Incense burner and lid, earthenware with crackled cream glaze and painted in overglaze enamels and gilt with group of ducks and a village scene; made by Kinkozan workshop, Kyoto, Japan, Meiji period, 1905-1910

Incense burner and lid of earthenware, covered with a crackled cream glaze, painted in overglaze enamels and gilt. Four-lobed bulbous body supported on three feet in the form of monster's heads; domed lid pierced with openings in the form of chrysanthemum-petals. On either side are oblong pictorial panels in colours. One represents a scene in a village with thatched houses and groups of women and children. In the other is depicted a group of ducks among bamboos and flowering plants beside a small waterfall. The remaining surface is decorated with a close pattern of conventional chrysanthemums in gold on a dark blue ground.

Presented by Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Dingwall DSO with Art Fund support

Given by Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Dingwall DSO with Art Fund support, accessioned in 1910. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.

The Kinkōzan workshop was one of the most successful producers of so-called ‘Kyō-Satsuma’ (Kyoto Satsuma) wares. Like their equivalents from Osaka, Yokohama and Tokyo, these pieces were Kyoto’s response to the western demand for delicately painted Japanese pottery. This trend was triggered by the showing of ‘Satsuma wares’ at the 1873 Vienna International Exhibition.

C.258-1910