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

This listing is for a Bizen-ware kogo made around 20 years ago by noted potter, Kimura Toho. It is moulded to resemble a rabbit holding a mallet. During autumn, Japan celebrates the harvest moon festival known as tsukimi. When the harvest moon appears, people gaze up at the sky hoping to catch a glimpse of the rabbit that lives on the moon. On a clear night, you can make out the shape of a rabbit busy pounding mochi with a mallet. Tsukimi was traditionally for giving thanks for bountiful harvests, mochi and vegetables were offered to the moon in return for successful crops the following year. The kogo in this listing is suitable for holding both woodchip and kneaded incense, although pottery kogo are typically used for kneaded incense during the cooler months. The stamp of the potter can be found on the bottom, and it comes with its original wooden storage box.  It also comes with a Japanese language profile paper.

Kimura Toho (b.1927) was born into one of the ‘Six Families of Bizen’ that were officially designated as honourable craftsmen by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The Kimura family has been in the business for twelve generations, and Toho is the second generation master of Tosho-en Gama. Kimura’s father established the Tosho-en noborigama kiln back in 1923. Kimura had originally planned to become a lawyer, and moved to Tokyo to study at Chuo University. However he abandoned his studies before graduation and returned to Inbe to help with the family business. In 1945 he won the Good Design Award at the 1945 Washington International Exhibition. In 1962 he officially took over the family kiln after his father passed away. He is best known for his wide range of teaware, vases, and sake vessels. He serves as Vice Chairman of the Okayama Prefecture Bizen-ware Ceramics Association, as well as the Vice Chairman of the Okayama Bizen Pottery Art Museum. **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Koedo and CANNOT be used in your own listings.

Bizen-ware is generally known for its iron-like hardness, simple unglazed texture, and distinctive markings resulting from wood-burning kiln firing. Because of the clay composition, Bizen pottery is fired slowly over a long period of time. Firings take place only once or twice a year. They require the wood fire to be kept burning for 10-14 days, which involves long hours and tonnes of wood. Bizen clay is dug up from rice fields and this iron rich clay is what gives most Bizen-ware its dark colours, though, a few potters prefer to use lighter mountain clay.

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.9.2cm (3.6”) x 8.5cm (3.3”) x 8.5cm (3.3”)

Kogo:  H.5.3cm (2”) x Dia.5.6cm (2.2”)

Condition

It’s in very good condition with no chips or cracks.

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.