I’ve had a few Koro incense burners by the great celadon artist Masayuki Uraguchi in the past but the others were shaped like lanterns or lotus leaves. This is the first I’ve come across that is so simple. Perfectly round - no feet, no shoulder, no neck or lip - it sits directly on the table or in the palm of the hand. The celadon is a perfectly clear blue-green with delicate, almost invisible crazing.

But it’s the form’s simplicity that shows off the intricately woven custom lid made of silver. At once both elegant and simple, the hexagonal pattern - known as mastume-ami - can be found in baskets, architecture, and design. The lid’s rim is marked “銀純” meaning “gin-jun” or pure silver.

There are different kinds of incense burners but I believe this one could be categorized as nerikōro. This kind of burner is used specifically for kneaded balls of incense, burned on charcoal, or pieces of pure sandalwood placed on mica plates over buried charcoal thar gently activates the scent.

Deceptively simple, Uraguchi’s elegant koro is an example of the Japanese dedication to kodo, the refined and ritualized appreciation of incense.

Comes with the signed, stamped, and titled wood box, stamped wrapping cloth, and CV.