Yūkichi (勇吉) - 香炉 - Porcelain - ライオンの飾り付きポーセリン香炉

タイトル: 九谷焼 角型 porcelain 香炉 赤絵 銘金飾 lion の頭部金具
作者: 勇吉（勇吉） / 九谷勇吉
Origin: 九谷焼（ Kutani Yuki? ） I should translate properly: Origin: Kutani Ware (九谷焼), Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
Dimensions: H 11 cm × W 6.7 cm × D 6.7 cm (4.33 × 2.64 × 2.64 in)
Weight: 331 g
Tomobako Size: H 10 cm × W 11.5 cm (3.94 × 4.53 in)
Material: Hand-decorated porcelain
Period: Taisho ~ Early Showa, circa 1920–1930

This subtly waisted square porcelain censer with a modelled lion finial was hand-thrown and decorated by noted Kutani ceramicist Kutani Yūkichi, a prime example of Taisho to early Showa period Kutani Akae Kinran-de (赤絵金襴手). Rooted in traditional Japanese wabi-sabi (侘寂) aesthetics, the piece is finished in classic Kutani iron-red overglaze akae enriched with hand-laid genuine gold leaf, showcasing freehand painterly brushwork alongside naturally formed age-related glaze craquelure. Designed for practical incense burning within tea ceremonies and interior scenting, it also serves as a decorative desk ornament for scholar interiors, combining functional use with collectible artistic value.

Conforming to traditional Japanese koro proportions, the slightly tapered square body stands on four compact ruyi-form short feet; the fitted lid is topped by a carved lion knop and pierced with open ruyi-shaped cut-out vents for gradual smoke dispersion. Made from high-grade Kutani porcelain body, the glaze has naturally developed fine ice-crack craquelure across its surface over nearly a century, a typical ageing trait of vintage Japanese pottery.

Set against an all-over dense iron-red scrolling foliate ground are four distinct round reserve medallions, each hand-painted with classic Japanese auspicious motifs:
Front: Phoenix among clouds (鳳凰雲紋), phoenix plumage detailed with solid gilding;
Side 1: Sparrows amid bamboo (竹雀紋), gold highlights accent sparrow plumage and bamboo edging;
Side 2: Pine tree with forest creature (松獣紋), pine needle centres picked out with applied gold leaf;
Reverse: Winter plum blossom branches (寒梅紋), iron-red trunk work with gilded flower centres.
Every decorative element is hand-rendered in iron-red pigment with selective genuine gold inlay, with spontaneous varied brushwork ensuring complete individuality across the decoration. A stamped rectangular red maker’s seal for Kutani Yūkichi (九谷勇吉) is impressed to the base as authentic workshop marking.

Complete with its period original wooden tomobako storage box lined with antique yellow silk tomonuno. Condition is consistent with its age: only faint accumulated surface dust, natural glaze craquelure and minor gentle oxidation to gilding present; no chips, hairline cracks or later restorations. Overall excellent antique condition relative to its production era.

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