Incense Container
Data
| Artist | Ki-seto (yellow Seto) type, Mino ware |
|---|---|
| Period | Momoyama period, 16th century |
| Materials and techniques | Stoneware with transparent yellowish glaze |
| Size | Overall H.3.2 D.6.2 |
Explanation
Ki-Seto, or Yellow Seto are wares fired in the kilns of Mino Province (present-day Gifu Prefecture) during the Momoyama period that are covered with a yellowish glaze. They are highly prized, and Ki-Seto incense containers are one of the most valued tea utensils of the Momoyama period. The piece shown here, with a whitish-yellow glazed surface and a pool of green glaze around the base, is an example of an early Ki-Seto. It is unglazed on the mouth-rim where the lid fits over the body and has a foot carved round and shallow in its recessed base in a style called “gokezoko”. It is not decorated with any design motif, but has an elegance reflecting the Momoyama taste.