A Blue and white patterns envelope this slightly belted vessel propped on three tiny feet surrounding the Tozan mark of the Ikeda Goyo-gama of Himeiji. As evidenced by the three tiny feet, and the fact the interior is only glazed halfway down, this was originally created as an incense burner and is accompanied by the original silvered lid pierced with fortuitous symbols. To this a former owner has added a Zogei lid lined with gold foil for powdered Tea Storage for use in the Japanese maccha tea ceremony. It is 7 cm (just less than 3 inches) diameter, 9 cm (3-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition, enclosed in a period wooden storage box.
Tozan-yaki was begun during the middle Edo period as the kiln of the Ikeda clan, Feudal Lords of Himeji Castle in Hyogo prefecture, now a world heritage site. During the Bunsei Era, a new kiln was established in Higashiyama village producing Arita style porcelains for the clan, and in Tenpo 2 (1831) a kiln designated the Higashiyama Goyo Tokisho was officially opened on Otokoyama North of the castle, and the wares from this point were known as Tozan-yaki. Either during or just following the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the kiln flagellated under privatized management, until 1876, when a new company was formed. However, that failed and the curtain was drawn on this pottery in 1882.
