A fabulous Minogame turtle with upturned tail made as an incense burner dating from the Meiji to Taisho period stamped with an impressed seal “Shuho” and featuring a bronze lid with gift box referencing the tale of Urashima Taro. The creatures is expertly crafted, with powerful stance as if it were about to leap, a cross between traditional Turtle and Lion motifs. The bronze lid has been custom made to suit the opening in the back. Atop is a package tied shut with solid silver wire and damascened gold highlights. The figure is 22 x 15 x 18.5 cm (9 x 6 x 7-1/4 inches) and comes enclosed in a period wooden box titled Bizen Yaki Kame Koro, Shuho-saku. The left ear has been repaired, otherwise it is in perfect condition. It comes with the wooden stand featured in the photographs.
Urashima Tarō is the hero (or perhaps victim) of one of Japan’s best-known folktales: a fisherman who journeys beneath the sea to the palace of the Dragon King, Ryūgū-jō, and returns to discover that centuries have passed in the human world. Although today it is often presented as a children’s fairy tale, its origins are extremely old, with versions of the story appearing in texts of the Nara period (8th century).
Bizen is one of Japan’s oldest ceramic traditions, renowned for its unglazed, earthy finishes and natural elegance. Originating in Okayama Prefecture during the Heian period, Bizen ware reflects the principles of wabi-sabi—the Japanese aesthetic of finding beauty in imperfection and impermanence. Fired in wood-burning kilns over several days, Bizen pottery develops unique textures and color variations, such as reddish hues (aka-e) or ash-glazed patterns (yohen), making each piece one of a kind. In the tea ceremony, Bizen tea bowls and water jars are prized for their rustic simplicity, complementing the ceremony's emphasis on harmony and natural beauty. The tactile, organic feel of Bizen ware fosters a meditative connection between the user and the vessel, embodying the spiritual essence of Japanese tea culture.
