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Incense Container in the Shape of a Flower

Kōyama Kiyoko

Artwork Details

Incense Container in the Shape of a Flower
circa 2000
Kōyama Kiyoko
stoneware with natural ash glaze
2 5/8 x 2 x 1 15/16 in. (6.67 x 5.24 x 4.92 cm)
Gift of the artist
2010/1.220

Description

Subject Matter:

This is an incense container. The artist, Koyama Kyoko, struggled as a female potter in a trade dominated by male artists. She received recognition when she discovered a way to revive the forgotten techinique of natural ash glazes, which are commonly used in her work.

Physical Description:

Flower shaped incesnse container consisting of two halves, which open horizontally, and fit together very precisely. Decorated with ash glaze, which gives the pottery a deep red color, deeper on the top and slightly lighter on rest of the container, with black as an accent color primarily on two sides of the container in a line going from the top of the piece to the bottom. The top of the container is very dramatically textured is a symetrical series of ridges which create the petals and shape of the flower.

Usage Rights:

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