Makuzu Kosai Fan-Shaped Kogo — Gold-Painted Incense Container

Discover this makuzu kosai kogo, an exquisite fan shaped ceramic from the japan tea ceremony tradition. This gold painted pottery features a gold botanical motif on iron red glaze art—an incense box ceramic and ogi fan kogo form with signed double box, a collector tea ware of enduring presence.

🔹 [ Basic Details ]
• Artist: Makuzu Kosai (真葛香斎), distinguished Kyoto ceramics lineage
• Technique: Iron-red glaze (鉄赤釉) with dense gold overglaze painting (金彩)
• Era: Contemporary (Heisei–Reiwa period)
• Origin: Kyoto, Japan
• Dimensions: Height approx. 3.1 cm, Width approx. 9.4 cm, Depth approx. 7 cm
• Box: Double box (二重箱 nijubako) — inner box bears Kosai's seal (香斎落款), outer box inscribed with title. Base stamped "真葛" (Makuzu).
• Condition: Excellent — no notable scratches, chips, or repairs. Pristine condition.

🔹 [ Cultural & Artistic Insight ]
The fan (扇, ogi) is a form laden with meaning in Japanese culture. Its spreading shape symbolizes expanding fortune, while its association with dance, court ceremony, and the tea room gives it layers of cultural resonance. A fan-shaped kogo is an uncommon and distinctive choice for the charcoal arrangement.

Makuzu Kosai covers the entire surface in dense gold painting over a deep iron-red ground. Botanical elements—leaves, bamboo, plum blossoms, and flowing vines—intertwine across the fan form with a completeness that leaves almost no ground visible. The gold catches light from every angle, creating a shifting surface of botanical abundance.

"The fan opens. What it reveals was always there—waiting to be seen."

🔹 [ Deep-Dive Commentary ]
The Makuzu lineage occupies a distinguished position in Kyoto ceramics history. Founded by Makuzu Chozo (Miyagawa Kozan's Kyoto branch), the kiln has produced successive generations of masters under the name Kosai (香斎), each maintaining the tradition of refined overglaze work suited to the tea ceremony.

The iron-red glaze (鉄赤) used as the ground for this piece derives its color from iron oxide. Against this warm, saturated base, gold overglaze painting achieves a richness that white or cream grounds cannot provide—the gold resonates with the red, creating visual warmth and depth.

Fan-shaped tea utensils (扇形茶道具) carry particular connotations of celebration and auspiciousness. The spreading shape suggests prosperity unfolding, making such pieces appropriate for New Year gatherings, celebratory tea events, and occasions marking new beginnings.

The double-box presentation (二重箱) reflects the Makuzu kiln's assessment of this work's standing. The separation of seal and inscription between inner and outer boxes follows traditional protocols for significant pieces.

【日本語解説】

🔹 [ 基本情報 ]
・作家：真葛香斎（京都・真葛窯）
・技法：鉄赤釉に金彩上絵付
・時代：現代（平成・令和期）
・産地：京都
・寸法：高さ約3.1cm、横約9.4cm、奥行約7cm
・箱：二重箱（内箱に香斎落款、外箱に作品銘）。底裏に「真葛」の押印。
・状態：極めて良好 — 目立つ傷や汚れなし。

🔹 [ 文化的・美術的解説 ]
扇は日本文化において多層的な意味を持つ形である。広がる形状は末広がりの吉祥を象徴し、舞踊、宮廷儀式、茶室との結びつきが文化的な奥行きを加える。扇形の香合は炭手前において独特かつ格調高い選択となる。

真葛香斎は深い鉄赤地の上に密な金彩で全面を覆う。葉、竹、梅花、蔓草が扇形の面に絡み合い、地がほとんど見えないほどの充実した構図を呈する。金彩はあらゆる角度から光を受け、植物の豊饒が揺らめく表面を生む。

🔹 [ 深掘り解説 ]
真葛の系譜は京都陶芸史において特別な位置を占める。真葛長造（宮川香山の京都系統）に端を発し、香斎の名のもとに代々の名手が茶道に適した精緻な上絵付の伝統を守り継いできた。

本作の鉄赤釉は酸化鉄に由来する温かく深い色調を持つ。この飽和した地色の上で金彩は白地やクリーム地では得られない豊かさを発揮し、金と赤が共鳴して視覚的な温もりと奥行きを生む。

扇形の茶道具は祝賀と吉祥の含意を持ち、末広がりの形は繁栄の展開を暗示する。初釜や慶事の茶席、新たな始まりを祝う席に相応しい。二重箱は真葛窯がこの作品の格を認めた証であり、内箱と外箱に落款と銘を分けて記す伝統的な作法に則っている。

🔹 [ SHIPPING & PACKAGING ]
• Dispatch: Within 1-6 business days
• Carrier: Japan Post EMS / UPS (with tracking)
• Packaging: Carefully wrapped with protective materials