Nakamura Soin Ryukyu Aogai Kogo, Sotan-Favoured Copy, Paulownia Box

A round lacquer incense box inlaid with shimmering aogai shell in a scrolling karakusa pattern, made by the Yamanaka maki-e artist Nakamura Soin.

This kogo copies a celebrated heirloom of the Omotesenke tea school: a Chinese aogai incense box with arabesque decoration, said to have been presented by the King of Ryukyu to Gempaku Sotan, and boxed with an inscription by Kosshin, the fourth Omotesenke head. Aogai is not a type of shell but a lacquer technique, also called raden, in which thin pieces of iridescent shell are set into the lacquered surface. In the tea room, a kogo holds the incense placed in the charcoal fire.

Details

• Artist: Nakamura Soin (中村宗尹), Yamanaka maki-e artist
• Title: 宗旦好写 琉球青貝香合 (Ryukyu aogai kogo, after Sotan's favoured piece)
• Technique: urushi lacquer with aogai (raden) shell inlay
• Size: diameter approx. 7 cm × height approx. 2.5 cm
• Box: paulownia (kiri) box
• Condition: new

Watch: a raden shell-inlay master at work

A profile of a Takaoka lacquer raden (mother-of-pearl inlay) craftsman, from the "Ashita e no Tobira" series by At Home. (A general craft video — not this piece or maker.)

Please read before ordering

• One of a kind. We confirm availability with the dealer in Japan within one business day of your order; if it has sold we refund in full immediately.
• Ships from New Jersey in 2–3 weeks. Price includes all import duties. Fully insured, signature required.
• Urushi lacquer is durable but dislikes direct sun and very dry air; care notes are included.