Item Description This is a hand-crafted ceramic kogo (香合) — a small lidded incense container used in the Japanese tea ceremony to hold nerikoh (blended incense) or fragrant wood. The piece was made by 山内達雄 Yamauchi Tatsuo, a Japanese ceramic artist. The lid is surmounted by a sculptural group of three monkeys rendered in the classic "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" (Mizaru, Kikazaru, Iwazaru) posture. The figures are modelled in a richly textured, unglazed dark reddish-brown clay, with accents of green glaze pooling at the base of the sculpture and touches of gold leaf applied at several points, lending the piece a quiet ceremonial richness. The body of the box is rectangular with gently undulating edges and short bracket feet. The exterior surfaces are decorated in a fluid combination of white and dark brown slip glazes that flow and overlap in an informal, painterly manner. On the front and sides, spare brushwork depicting grasses or reeds is painted in dark pigment over the lighter ground, evoking the aesthetic of ink painting (suibokuga). Additional flecks of gold leaf punctuate the box walls. The interior of the box is finished in a smooth dark glaze. The underside of the box is unglazed, revealing the dark stoneware clay body, with the foot rim showing the characteristic texture of hand-formed work. Size Height: 9 cm Width: 8 cm Depth: 5.5 cm Weight 288 g Condition Overall condition is good, consistent with careful use. A small chip is visible on one corner of the base, as shown in the photographs. No cracks or repairs are noted on the lid or the sculptural group. The gold leaf accents show some natural wear. Buyers are encouraged to review all photographs carefully. Artist Profile Yamauchi Tatsuo is a Japanese ceramic artist known for hand-formed stoneware that draws on the expressive vocabulary of traditional Japanese aesthetics. His work frequently incorporates figurative sculptural elements alongside painterly glaze treatments — combining unglazed textured clay, flowing slip glazes, ink-style brushwork, and gold leaf accents — to create pieces that function both as functional tea-ceremony utensils and as independent works of art. NOITICE: The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post, DHL or FedEx depend on the situation. It takes about 3 weeks to receive normally. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Sometimes Customes or delivery company in your country contact you for Customs clearance via phone or email. Please make sure that you could answer the phone. If you don't, the parcel will return to me and it cost more double shipping fee for reshipping. I appreciate your cooperation.