Kurokinsai Lidded Kōro - Incense Censer
Kurokawa MasakiThis small Kiyomizu-yaki lidded kōro (香炉 - incense censer) is decorated in a style called kurokinsai (黒金彩 - black gold), with a matte black base with bronze-gold highlights across its textured surface. The lid features a carved pattern with holes and the censer is supported by three feet.
This censer was made by Kurokawa Masaki (黒川正樹). Born in 1977, Kurokawa-san's inspirations come from the various styles he encountered trough his solo travels throughout Asia and Africa as well as the traditional Japanese aesthetic he employed during his time as a potter in Shigaraki. Since opening his own kiln in 2013, Kurokawa has fused these diverse influences to create his own unique styles.
Made in Japan. Ships from the United States.
Width: 7.1 cm (2.8 in) (Widest Point)
Height: 7.5 cm (3 in)
Kyō-yaki (京焼) is a type of Japanese pottery that traditionally comes from Kyoto, Japan. The pottery traditions of Kyoto date back to the 5th century and are varied in their styles. The styles most associated with modern kyō-yaki production began during the 1600s when Nonomura Ninsei perfected his overglaze technique, leading to the elegantly decorated, multi-coloured wares that Kyoto has come to be famous for.
Kōro (香炉) are vessels used to hold ash and burning incense. They come in a host of shapes, sizes, and styles, but are most commonly made from metal or ceramic. The simple way to use a kōro is to fill it with incense ash, light a stick of incense, and stand it up in the ash. More advanced incense techniques involve burying a lit charcoal in the ash, and using its heat to gently warm kneaded incense, resins, or aromatic woods.
Many censer have lids; these can be removed for burning sticks, but can also be put back on when using other methods, allowing the incense smoke to filter through the holes in the lid.
The style of kōro used in Kōdō (香道 - Incense Ceremony) is called a a kiki-gōro, or te-kōro (聞香炉・手香炉). this style of incense censer has three ‘legs’ or ‘feet’ and a simple cylindrical shape. When filled with ash, it can be used to gently heat kōboku (aromatic woods) using the monkō (聞香) technique, perfume a room using the soradaki (空薫) technique, or hold incense sticks and catch their ashes.