Lacquered incense container with peony design in wood carving

In ancient China, the peony was called the "king of flowers" and has since been widely used as a symbol of wealth and nobility in the decoration of various arts and crafts.


In Kamakura carving, the peony design is overwhelmingly common, and this piece is also one of those that follow this tradition.

This is evident from the fact that Kamakura carving has its origins in the imitation of Chinese carved lacquerware.

The highlight of this incense container is its gorgeous and bold design.

The center of the lid is decorated with a large, magnificent peony flower, and the sides and periphery are covered with leaves and stems.

The leaves are coiled in a circle, resembling an arabesque pattern.

The size is also just right, at 8.5 cm wide, and fits easily in the hand.

There are two types of Kamakura carved incense containers: those used for temple utensils and those used for tea ceremony utensils.

The black lacquer is covered with bright vermilion lacquer, but the wooden body also gives it a soft and friendly appearance.



The wooden body has some scuffs and scratches due to age, but this is also part of the charm of this item.

The cover is made of Tsubame fat ground gold braid and cord in the same color.

The gold braid has been woven in, but it has settled down over time.