Hirado Chrysanthemum Sometsuke Tripod Incense Burner (With Eboshi Hat-shaped Lid Knob)

The Hirado Kohsyo Danemon Kiln in Mikawachi, Nagasaki Prefecture has a history of over 400 years. With its origins tracing back to potters brought back from the Korean Peninsula by the lord of Hirado during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1573-1603), it was established as the official kiln of the Hirado Domain during the Edo period (1603-1868). The kiln’s history continues to this day, and under the 18th generation head the family continues to engage in craftsmanship rooted in that long tradition.

The charm of Mikawachi ware lies in its delicate craftmanship and sometsuke, the practice of drawing on biscuit with a blue pigment under transparent glaze. The three-dimensional chrysanthemum motif is created through a technique handed down in the kiln from generation to generation, and is formed by repeating the meticulous process of cutting petals one by one from a lump of clay with a bamboo spatula. The lid is decorated in the shape of the ceremonial eboshi hat worn by a Shinto priest. This piece is truly exquisite, adorned with intricate designs on the flawless white Amakusa porcelain and complemented by the graceful shades of the gosu blue seeping from within.