Kinuta Longquan Celadon Tripod Censer
Southern Song Dynasty 1127-1279 AD, China
A classic tripod censer form with compressed bulbous body standing on three legs splayed outwards. There is a tall neck
finished in a flattened mouth rim. Three ribs connect a horizontal ridge at the top quarter of the body to the midpoint of the
legs. The interior and exterior of the body is covered in an ideal “Kinuta” quality minty blue-green opaque celadon green
glaze, leaving only the bottom of the feet unglazed, and revealing a pale grey stoneware body fired to a light russet color. The
bottom of the interior has three spur marks. The mouth-rim has two chips repaired in old (possibly Edo Period) “kinsugi”
gold lacquer repair of reddish gold tone.
Together with an Edo Period silver domed grate of swirling cloud pattern, and an old Japnese tomo-bako (box). This piece is
likely heirloomed in Japan since the 13th century, having gone from temple collection to private hands sometime during the
Edo Period.
Provenance:
Private Japanese Collection
