A delightful and very rare mid-17th century Early Enamelled Ko-Kutani porcelain bird form kōgō (incense container) in the shape of a goose, its alert head tilted upwards, with moulded wings crossed upon its back, enamelled in early overglaze pigments of yellow, green, black and iron-red
 
Arita kiln, Early Enamelled ware, Ko Kutani type or an early enamellers workshop, Hizen province, Japan
early Edo period
circa 1650-60
 
MEASUREMENTS:
7.5 cm long x 4.0 cm wide x 5.5 cm high.
 
A very early, rare and attractive bird form porcelain box (incense container or kogo) in the shape of a swimming goose, with  moulded wings decorated in early enamel pigments of yellow (ochre), green, iron-red and black outlining, the lower oval body form section in plain white glaze.
 
Incense containers were originally made for the Japanese tea ceremony, and it is likely that few 17th century Europeans would have understood its use as a container to house blended aromatic ingredients, seeing it instead as a highly decorative porcelain box. In Edo period Japan, the goose symbolized the arrival of autumn, and early 17th century enamelled models of geese are very rare. 
 
Similar bird form kōgōs are in the Kyushu Ceramic Museum, illustrated in Complete Catalogue of Shibata Collection of 1990. Also in the Collection of the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art (Toronto) Macdonald Collection of Japanese porcelain. See Gardiner Museum G20.9.4a-b
 
CONDITION REPORT:
In very fine condition with expected minor losses to the early enamels.
 
STORAGE:
With formal tea ceremony storage, including a fine traditional Japanese silk shifuku cover for the porcelain kōgō, an antique inscribed wooden storage box, outer furoshiki cloth wrap, ribbon, and inscribed wooden tablet label.