The Kura - Japanese Art Treasures

Robert Mangold has been working with Japanese antiques since 1995 with an emphasis on ceramics, Paintings, Armour and Buddhist furniture.

Important Suwa Sozan I Kogo Incense Box Set


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Directory: Archives: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Pre 1920: Item # 1284066

Please refer to our stock # TCR4801 when inquiring.
The Kura
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23 Murasakino Monzen-cho
Kita-ward Kyoto 603-8216
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A set of 12 Kogo incense containers representing the 12 animals of the zodiac by Suwa Sozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden stacking-box. Each is roughly between 2 and 4 inches (5-10 cm). The Inoshishi (wild boar) has a small chip, otherwise all are in superb condition. In twenty years I have never seen a set like this and it certainly belongs in a museum.
Sozan I (1852-1922) was born in Kutani country, present day Ishikawa prefecture, where he initially studied before moving to Tokyo in 1875. Over the next 25 years he would gravitate between Tokyo and Kanazawa, working at various kilns and research facilities. He again relocated, this time to Kyoto in 1900 to manage the Kinkozan Studio before establishing his own. His name became synonymous with celadon and refined porcelain and was one of only five potters to be named Teishitsu Gigei-in. The Teishitsu Gigei-in were members of the Imperial Art Academy, Perhaps in modern terms one might call them the predecessors to the Living National Treasures. However unlike the LNT, there were only five Pottery artists ever named Teishitsu Gigei-in, Ito Tozan, Suwa Sozan, Itaya Hazan, Miyagawa Kozan, and Seifu Yohei III. He was succeeded by his adopted daughter upon his death. He is held in the Kyoto National Museum among many others.