*SHIPPING OPTIONS VARY DEPENDING ON THE DESTINATION, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS LISTING FOR MORE DETAILS.

This listing is for a SMALL lacquered hyotan kogo made around 40 years ago by lacquer artist, Fukui Seizan.  This piece is a small gourd that has been dried and coated on glossy black ‘uchiguro’ lacquer on the interior.  Hyotan are an auspicious symbol linked to longevity and fertility. They are also thought to symbolize happiness and success, thus making them a popular motif during New Year.  This piece is very lightweight and well suited to holding woodchip incense during the warmer months.  It comes with a signed wooden storage box as well as a signed and stamped wrapping cloth for when the item is not in use.  It also comes with a Japanese language profile paper about the craftsman.

Fukui Seizan was born in Takamatsu City in 1910.  He studied at the Kagawa Prefectural School of Crafts under master lacquer artist Isoi Joshin (1883-1964), and later under Nakamura Seizo and Yamamoto Masato (1895-1935) in Kyoto.  After returning to Kagawa, he worked in the painting department of the Kagawa Prefectural Industrial Research Institute, before going independent and creating works under the name ‘Kyo Seien’.  His work was selected for the prestigious Japan Art Academy Exhibition on four occasions, during which he received the first place Academy Award.  He also exhibited at the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition three times, and he received two awards at the National Lacquerware Crafts Exhibition.  He also received the Third Prize Award at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Crafts Exhibition, and an award at the National Export Crafts Exhibition.  He received the Kyoto City Art Award at the Kansai General Art Exhibition, and received the Governors Award on three occasions at the Kagawa Prefectural General Art Exhibition.  He was a member of the Kagawa Prefecture Design Committee where he was appointed as the official Kagawa Prefecture Design Councillor.  He also served as the former Kagawa Prefectural Industrial Technology Officer, as well as the Director of the Kagawa Prefecture Crafts Promotion Association.  Fukui created a variety of works such as trays, decorative items and tea utensils, and one of his painted screens that was exhibited before the ‘Appraisal Group’ in 2014 was appraised at 500,000 yen.  **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and CANNOT be used in your own listings.

Kogo are for holding incense during the tea ceremony. Kogo vary depending on the season. In summer wooden kogo are used for holding chips of incense wood, and in winter ceramic kogo are used for holding kneaded incense intended for the hearth. During the tea ceremony, incense is added to the charcoal fire during the charcoal-laying procedure.

Sizes

Box:  H.5.2cm (2”) x 7.7cm (3”) x 4.6cm (1.8”)

Kogo:  H.2.2cm (0.8”) x L.5.7cm (2.2”) x W.2.8cm (1.1”)

Condition

It’s in very good condition with few signs of wear, the wrapping cloth however is spotty, and the profile paper is spotty as well.  Things generally become spotty due to the high humidity in Japan during summer.

THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION                                                                 

**Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia:  NO SHIPPING.  Very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to these countries.  We have no plan to register at this time because the process is in some cases very expensive and complicated, plus each country has its own set of regulations and application process. 

**USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway: Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-28 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Asia:  Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-21 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Central Asia, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico:  EMS Express 10-15 days.

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.