Posted 4 years ago
kwqd
(1181 items)
This censer by the Japanese foundry Bunshudo measures 6" diameter x 2.25" high. It has no maker's mark but the text on the lid of the box identifies the maker. Generally very well molded and finished in its original box. It depicts a Phoenix on the lid. It is quite large so perhaps meant to be the focal point of a display. Bunshudo was founded in 1817 and is a well known Japanese foundry that uses the sand casting method for molding their wares.
This is the next to the last thing I purchased from the estate of the American professor who taught at a Japanese university and mailed numerous items back to the States and never used them. It appears to be a cast iron censer for burning incense. The seller was unsure of its purpose.
Thanks for loving my Japanese metal thing aura, iggy, Kevin, Jenni, PhilDMorris, fortapache and Cokeman1959!
Hey Kevin, I had one of these in copper with a garland of enamel flowers on the lid, I was not sure what the purpose was either, looked like a pretty pot pourri dish, to place in the home were a pretty scent would be appreciated.
No idea if this was for local use or export to the West from Japan. Here is mine by Ando, a company of long duration, a century, who embraced the less is more approach for a while with cloisonne.
https://d3h6k4kfl8m9p0.cloudfront.net/stories/gnewW6D8cWVlwNEQNXHw.A.jpeg
Thanks, Lisa. That is really pretty! Mine could be for potpourri... The diameter seems a bit large for a censer. The seller speculated that it could, in some way, be connected to the Japanese tea ceremony, and most of the stuff from the professor's estate was tea ceremony paraphernalia. There was also a kokeshi doll in the pile, though...
Very nice piece of cast iron work! The lid depicts a hou-ou or phoenix, which certainly implies it held something hot ;) I think it could indeed be for burning incense. Personally I'm a little dubious about it being used specifically in tea ceremony, mainly because in that context you don't typically use censers (rather, the incense is placed into the ash close to - but not on - the lit charcoal of the same fire that heats the kettle, so that the scent is gradually released as the event proceeds). But perhaps there's another use in tea that I'm unaware of :)
Thanks for sharing these your knowledge, rhineisfine! I appreciate it! I lived in Japan a long time age but I was a soldier and I missed experiencing many of the subtleties of that society, and which I now regret.
Thanks much Hoot60! I appreciate your taking time to look at my post!
I don't know what it's for Kevin but I love the design of the phoenix.
Thanks Karen and Vynil33rpm!
Thanks for looking at my cast iron censer bobby725!
Thanks for loving my incense burner dlpetersen!
Thanks for loving my incense burner Collectables59!