Satsuma Ware Kogo Incense Container | Nishiki Geometric | Ryoko Kiln | Nozaki Kinsei

The white Satsuma ground is never simply white. Beneath the geometric band of polychrome ornament, the characteristic craquelure of Satsuma ware distributes light in a way that no flat surface can — each fine crack holds the age of the piece, its history of contraction and expansion through tea room seasons. The box carries its own marks of time.

🔹 [ BASIC DETAILS ]
- Artist/Maker: 野崎錦正 (Nozaki Kinsei), 錦江窯 (Ryoko Kiln)
- Title: 薩摩焼 香合 (Satsuma-Yaki Kogo)
- Dimensions: Diameter approx. 6.5 cm, H. approx. 3.7 cm
- Condition: No cracks or chips; box has some staining
- Comes with: Tomobako (signed wooden storage box)

— Cultural Insight —
Satsuma ware (薩摩焼) from the Kagoshima domain developed along two distinct paths: the white-bodied ware (shiro-satsuma) intended for aristocratic and export markets, and the dark-bodied ware for daily use. The shiro-satsuma known in the West as "Satsuma" is defined by its cream-white crackle ground, upon which artisans applied dense polychrome and gold decoration in the Meiji-era tradition of nishiki-de (brocade painting).

The kogo (香合) is a small lidded container used in tea ceremony to hold incense — in the ro (hearth) season, a ceramic kogo is used, while the furo (brazier) season calls for lacquerware. Its small scale demands that ornament be compressed and precise.

— Deep-Dive Observation —
The geometric band on this piece is executed with the rigor of nishiki-de at its most controlled — gold, blue, red, and green in a repeating pattern that maintains its precision around the circumference. There is no loosening of the brushwork at the joins. The craquelure of the white ground is fine and even, the characteristic mark of Satsuma clay and its particular relationship to its glaze.

The piece is clean and well-preserved in its ceramic elements. The tomobako carries staining consistent with its age, which is expected of boxes that have done their proper work of storage and protection. The ceramic itself shows no damage.

🔹 [ SHIPPING & PACKAGING ]
• Dispatch: Within 1-6 business days
• Carrier: Japan Post EMS / UPS (with tracking)
• Packaging: Carefully wrapped with protective materials
• Insurance: Included for all shipments
• Note: Import duties and taxes may apply depending on your country's regulations

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野崎錦正作、錦江窯による白薩摩の香合です。薩摩焼特有の細かい貫入を持つ白地に、金彩と色絵による幾何学文帯が一周します。青・赤・緑・金の繰り返し文様は精緻で、筆の乱れがありません。茶道の炉の季節に使われる陶製香合として、端正な佇まいをもちます。共箱付き（箱にシミあり）。陶器本体にヒビ・欠けなし。