The Kura - Japanese Art Treasures

Robert Mangold has been working with Japanese antiques since 1995 with an emphasis on ceramics, Paintings, Armour and Buddhist furniture.

Suwa Sozan I Porcelain Kogo Incense Case, 1921, Zodiac


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Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Porcelain: Pre 1930: Item # 1498906

Please refer to our stock # K450 when inquiring.
The Kura
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23 Murasakino Monzen-cho
Kita-ward Kyoto 603-8216
tel.81-75-201-3497
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 $395.00 
A Rooster stands proudly in slight relief, his tail plumage draping down like a cape, on the lid of this celadon incense container by Suwa Sozan I enclosed in the original signed wooden box bearing the Teishitsu Gigei-in stamp. This would be the last Zodiac animal created by the artist, as he passed away the following year. It is 6 cm (2-1/2 inches) diameter and in excellent condition. An example of this piece is published in the rare 1971 book Suwa Sozan Sakuhin Shu page 44.
Sozan I (1852-1922) was born in Kutani country, present day Ishikawa prefecture, where he initially studied before moving to Tokyo in 1875. Over the next 25 years he would gravitate between Tokyo and Kanazawa, working at various kilns and research facilities. He again relocated, this time to Kyoto in 1900 to manage the Kinkozan Studio before establishing his own. His name became synonymous with celadon and refined porcelain and was one of only five potters to be named Teishitsu Gigei-in. The Teishitsu Gigei-in were members of the Imperial Art Academy, Perhaps in modern terms one might call them the predecessors to the Living National Treasures. However unlike the LNT, there were only five Pottery artists ever named Teishitsu Gigei-in, Ito Tozan, Suwa Sozan, Itaya Hazan, Miyagawa Kozan, and Seifu Yohei III. He was succeeded by his adopted daughter upon his death. He is held in the Kyoto National Museum among many others.