Japanese Polychrome Bizen Ware Incense Burner (Koro) Depicting Jurōjin or Jukōjin, Edo to Meiji Period

Story

Crafted in 19th-century Japan, this stoneware incense burner brings Jurōjin, the god of longevity, to life. When incense burns inside, ethereal smoke drifts directly out of his open mouth and eyes. It transforms a ritual object into a mesmerizing, theatrical sculpture.

Maker / Origin

Bizen pottery is one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns, famed for unglazed, high-fired stoneware that relies on natural ash glazes and fire marks. During the late Edo and Meiji periods, master sculptors in the Imbe region specialized in 'Saikou-mono' (intricate figural ware), creating deities, folklore figures, and animals with vivid human characteristics.

Condition & Value

Shows typical age-related pigment loss, flaking, and rubbing to the cold-applied paint, particularly around the hem, robe, and head cover. Minor surface abrasions on the dark stoneware base. The original structural body remains intact, which is critical for value.