Incense container (kogo)

Object Details

• Description

  Object is an incense container recently made from an old cedar knob or boss. It consists of a dome shaped lid which rests on a flange shaped base. The lid has been hollowed out and a small wooden dish has been inserted into the base. (This was recently done.) The base has a flat bottom and four square shaped holes through the shoulder which appear to be old.

  The outer surface is dark and very weathered in texture. There are scattered remains of gilded lacquer on the lid and base. Microscopic examination reveals that the gilding (or regilding) occured after the lacquer surface had deteriorated.

• Provenance

  To 1981

  Setsu Iwao, Tokyo, to 1981 [1]

  From 1981 to 1998

  Peggy and Richard M. Danziger, New York, given by Setsu Iwao in 1981 [2]

  From 1998

  Freer Gallery of Art, given by Peggy and Richard M. Danziger in 1998

  Notes:

  [1] According to Curatorial Note 2, Louise Cort, May 28, 1998, in the object record.

  [2] See note 1.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Storage Boxes and Accessories (June 22, 2003 to January 4, 2004)

  Beyond the Legacy--Anniversary Acquisitions of the Freer Gallery of Art (October 11, 1998 to April 11, 1999)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Hosomi Ryoichi (1901-1978)

  Setsu Iwao

  Peggy and Richard M. Danziger

• Origin

  Toshodai-ji Temple, Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Peggy and Richard M. Danziger

• Type

  Container

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  700s

• Name

  Hosomi, Ryoichi, Setsu, Iwao, Danziger, Peggy and Richard M.

• Place

  Japan, Toshodai-ji Temple

• Topic

  Art, Nara period (645 - 794), Incense, Japanese Art, Lacquer

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Containers