Ribbed Celadon Censer
Edo Period, Japan
Height: 10.5cm
A ribbed censer that tapers down from its flattened mouth rim to a slightly narrower base, all sitting on three ruyi shaped feet. The sides are decorated with four bands of deeply carved horizontal ribs. The piece is covered with a minty blue-green glaze with wide crackles that are stained brownish on the exterior. There is a silver domed lid, probably Meiji Period, with a reticulated phoenix in flight. With fitted wooden box.
This piece was made in the style of Ming Dynasty Chinese celadon censers, which were imported into Japan for temple use, and later incorporated into the tea ceremony. While similar in form, the glaze is more translucent than the Chinese examples.
Provenance:
From a private Japanese collection
