Kitamura Gako (北村雅耕) – Kyo-yaki Ceramic Paper Balloon Incense Container (Kamifusen Kogo) with Signed - Ceramic - Kitamura Gako (北村雅耕) - Japan - Shōwa period (1926-1989)
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A Kyo-yaki ceramic incense container (kogo) by Kyoto artist Kitamura Gako, made to resemble a washi paper balloon (kamifusen) with eight coloured panels, height 4.5 cm and diameter 5.2 cm, featuring a silver and gold air-valve ring, signed base, and complete with a signed paulownia tomobako from Japan in the Shōwa period and in excellent original condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
– Created in Kyoto by Kyo-yaki and Kyo-toningyo (Kyoto ceramic doll) artist Kitamura Gako (北村雅耕), known for translating traditional Japanese folk motifs and courtly figures into tea-ceremony incense containers.
– Hand-formed spherical ceramic kogo (H 4.5 cm, Ø 5.2 cm) sculpted to mimic the crinkled, eight-panelled geometry of a washi paper balloon (kamifusen) in matte turquoise-green, white, warm orange, and sunny yellow, crowned with a silver-and-gold air-valve ring.
– Impressed with the seal "Gako" (雅耕) on the base, accented with gold leaf flakes inside the lid well, and housed in its signed paulownia tomobako inscribed "Kamifusen Kogo" (紙風船 香合).
Summary:
A Kyo-yaki ceramic incense container (kogo) by Kyoto artist Kitamura Gako (北村雅耕), fashioned in the likeness of a traditional Japanese paper balloon (kamifusen). Measuring 4.5 cm high and 5.2 cm in diameter, the palm-sized sphere captures the crinkled facets of folded washi paper in tactile ceramic. Eight radiating vertical panels alternate in soft matte washes of turquoise-green, white, warm orange, and bright yellow, converging at the top around a silver and gold ring representing the balloon's air hole. Complete with its signed paulownia tomobako, it brings playful seasonal charm (mitate) to the tea ceremony or collector's cabinet.
Form, Paper-Balloon Geometry, and Polychrome Finish
Seen beside its tomobako and across the four profile rotations, the vessel is a study in trompe-l'oeil ceramic modelling:
- Rather than a rigid wheel-thrown sphere, the body is softly faceted and dimpled by hand, reproducing the creases and puffed seams of an inflated washi paper balloon.
- A horizontal joint line runs around the lower third of the sphere, separating the domed lid from the lower bowl while keeping the vertical colour wedges aligned across the seam.
- Viewed from above, the exterior is divided into eight tapering wedges painted in a repeating four-colour sequence—turquoise-green, matte white, warm orange, and sunny yellow—whose visible brushwork and chalky finish evoke dyed Japanese paper.
- At the apex of the lid sits a raised circular medallion painted in silver with a gold inner ring around a central recess, echoing the paper mouthpiece of a kamifusen.
Interior Gold Accents and Impressed Base Mark
The four-panel detail view reveals the craftsmanship inside and beneath the vessel:
- Turning over the lid shows a white inner seating flange that fits into the lower bowl, while the recessed central well of the lid underside carries clustered flakes of gold leaf (kinpaku / sunago), offering a quiet gleam when opened.
- The interior of the lower bowl has a smooth matte white ceramic surface for holding kneaded incense (neriko) or fragrant wood.
- On the underside of the base, the eight painted wedges meet a flat, unglazed white circular pad stamped in the centre with Kitamura Gako's rectangular seal "Gako" (雅耕).
Kitamura Gako and the Kyoto Ceramic Doll (Kyo-toningyo) Tradition
Kyoto—highlighted on the regional map—has for centuries been the heart of the Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu) and the birthplace of Kyo-yaki ceramics and Kyo-toningyo (Kyoto ceramic dolls). Rooted in the Edo-period earthenware figures of Fushimi (Fushimi-ningyo) and refined alongside Kyoto's court doll traditions, Kyo-toningyo uses fine white clay fired at low temperature and painted with soft matte pigments to achieve a paper-like warmth. Working in this Kyoto tradition, Kitamura Gako (Heian Gako) specialises in sculptural kogo and seasonal okimono—from standing Hina dolls (Tachibina) and zodiac figures to nostalgic toys such as the kamifusen.
In the Tea Room and Contemporary Interior
In a Japanese tokonoma alcove on tatami or dark lacquer, the paper-balloon kogo introduces childhood nostalgia and lively colour; on a console table or vitrine in a European interior, it stands out as an intimate piece of ceramic trompe-l'oeil. One can imagine – and it is only imagined – a quiet Kyoto workshop where the artist aligns the four bright pigment washes across lid and bowl, turning clay into a vessel ready to float on a breeze.
Accompanying Items, Dimensions, and Condition
- Paulownia box (tomobako) inscribed "Kamifusen" (紙風船), "Kogo" (香合), and "Gako-zo" (雅耕造) over red seal "Gako" (雅耕).
- Dimensions: H 4.5 × Ø 5.2 cm. Condition: Good condition with no chips or cracks; light wear to the gold leaf inside the lid.
A little more of this incense container's story awaits its new owner.
This listing contains AI Visualisations. Please refer to the original photographs for the actual object condition.
Shipping & Handling
Shipped from Japan, carefully packed to protect the incense container, with tracking provided.
We guarantee this piece is as described.
Seller's Story
Hello, and thank you for visiting my page. I primarily handle Japanese antiques, as well as Western antiques, art pieces, and pre-loved items that have been cherished in Japan. Growing up in a family of historians—my grandfather was a historian and my father was an archaeologist—I have always been captivated by the eras and stories these historic objects and works of art carry with them.
My listings feature collections from both Japan and the West, pieces that have stood the test of time and remained beloved through the ages. Through these rare treasures, I hope to share with you the delight of ownership and discovery. As a professional, I strive for honest and sincere transactions to ensure customer satisfaction, always leveraging my experience and eye for quality.
I strongly believe in not letting buyers down, so I describe items as accurately and thoroughly as possible, prioritizing secure and careful packaging. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out. It would be my pleasure to help enrich your collecting experience.
Thank you for your interest, and I look forward to doing business with you.
– Created in Kyoto by Kyo-yaki and Kyo-toningyo (Kyoto ceramic doll) artist Kitamura Gako (北村雅耕), known for translating traditional Japanese folk motifs and courtly figures into tea-ceremony incense containers.
– Hand-formed spherical ceramic kogo (H 4.5 cm, Ø 5.2 cm) sculpted to mimic the crinkled, eight-panelled geometry of a washi paper balloon (kamifusen) in matte turquoise-green, white, warm orange, and sunny yellow, crowned with a silver-and-gold air-valve ring.
– Impressed with the seal "Gako" (雅耕) on the base, accented with gold leaf flakes inside the lid well, and housed in its signed paulownia tomobako inscribed "Kamifusen Kogo" (紙風船 香合).
Summary:
A Kyo-yaki ceramic incense container (kogo) by Kyoto artist Kitamura Gako (北村雅耕), fashioned in the likeness of a traditional Japanese paper balloon (kamifusen). Measuring 4.5 cm high and 5.2 cm in diameter, the palm-sized sphere captures the crinkled facets of folded washi paper in tactile ceramic. Eight radiating vertical panels alternate in soft matte washes of turquoise-green, white, warm orange, and bright yellow, converging at the top around a silver and gold ring representing the balloon's air hole. Complete with its signed paulownia tomobako, it brings playful seasonal charm (mitate) to the tea ceremony or collector's cabinet.
Form, Paper-Balloon Geometry, and Polychrome Finish
Seen beside its tomobako and across the four profile rotations, the vessel is a study in trompe-l'oeil ceramic modelling:
- Rather than a rigid wheel-thrown sphere, the body is softly faceted and dimpled by hand, reproducing the creases and puffed seams of an inflated washi paper balloon.
- A horizontal joint line runs around the lower third of the sphere, separating the domed lid from the lower bowl while keeping the vertical colour wedges aligned across the seam.
- Viewed from above, the exterior is divided into eight tapering wedges painted in a repeating four-colour sequence—turquoise-green, matte white, warm orange, and sunny yellow—whose visible brushwork and chalky finish evoke dyed Japanese paper.
- At the apex of the lid sits a raised circular medallion painted in silver with a gold inner ring around a central recess, echoing the paper mouthpiece of a kamifusen.
Interior Gold Accents and Impressed Base Mark
The four-panel detail view reveals the craftsmanship inside and beneath the vessel:
- Turning over the lid shows a white inner seating flange that fits into the lower bowl, while the recessed central well of the lid underside carries clustered flakes of gold leaf (kinpaku / sunago), offering a quiet gleam when opened.
- The interior of the lower bowl has a smooth matte white ceramic surface for holding kneaded incense (neriko) or fragrant wood.
- On the underside of the base, the eight painted wedges meet a flat, unglazed white circular pad stamped in the centre with Kitamura Gako's rectangular seal "Gako" (雅耕).
Kitamura Gako and the Kyoto Ceramic Doll (Kyo-toningyo) Tradition
Kyoto—highlighted on the regional map—has for centuries been the heart of the Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu) and the birthplace of Kyo-yaki ceramics and Kyo-toningyo (Kyoto ceramic dolls). Rooted in the Edo-period earthenware figures of Fushimi (Fushimi-ningyo) and refined alongside Kyoto's court doll traditions, Kyo-toningyo uses fine white clay fired at low temperature and painted with soft matte pigments to achieve a paper-like warmth. Working in this Kyoto tradition, Kitamura Gako (Heian Gako) specialises in sculptural kogo and seasonal okimono—from standing Hina dolls (Tachibina) and zodiac figures to nostalgic toys such as the kamifusen.
In the Tea Room and Contemporary Interior
In a Japanese tokonoma alcove on tatami or dark lacquer, the paper-balloon kogo introduces childhood nostalgia and lively colour; on a console table or vitrine in a European interior, it stands out as an intimate piece of ceramic trompe-l'oeil. One can imagine – and it is only imagined – a quiet Kyoto workshop where the artist aligns the four bright pigment washes across lid and bowl, turning clay into a vessel ready to float on a breeze.
Accompanying Items, Dimensions, and Condition
- Paulownia box (tomobako) inscribed "Kamifusen" (紙風船), "Kogo" (香合), and "Gako-zo" (雅耕造) over red seal "Gako" (雅耕).
- Dimensions: H 4.5 × Ø 5.2 cm. Condition: Good condition with no chips or cracks; light wear to the gold leaf inside the lid.
A little more of this incense container's story awaits its new owner.
This listing contains AI Visualisations. Please refer to the original photographs for the actual object condition.
Shipping & Handling
Shipped from Japan, carefully packed to protect the incense container, with tracking provided.
We guarantee this piece is as described.
Seller's Story
Hello, and thank you for visiting my page. I primarily handle Japanese antiques, as well as Western antiques, art pieces, and pre-loved items that have been cherished in Japan. Growing up in a family of historians—my grandfather was a historian and my father was an archaeologist—I have always been captivated by the eras and stories these historic objects and works of art carry with them.
My listings feature collections from both Japan and the West, pieces that have stood the test of time and remained beloved through the ages. Through these rare treasures, I hope to share with you the delight of ownership and discovery. As a professional, I strive for honest and sincere transactions to ensure customer satisfaction, always leveraging my experience and eye for quality.
I strongly believe in not letting buyers down, so I describe items as accurately and thoroughly as possible, prioritizing secure and careful packaging. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out. It would be my pleasure to help enrich your collecting experience.
Thank you for your interest, and I look forward to doing business with you.
Details
Dynastic Style/Period
Shōwa period (1926-1989)
Number of objects
1
Artist
Kitamura Gako (北村雅耕)
Country of Origin
Japan
Material
Ceramic
Height
4.5 cm
Width
0.2 cm
Title of artwork
Kitamura Gako (北村雅耕) – Kyo-yaki Ceramic Paper Balloon Incense Container (Kamifusen Kogo) with Signed
Condition
Excellent condition
Authenticity
Original/official
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