This Kutani-yaki incense box by Takashi Kitamura beautifully blends playful form with refined craftsmanship. Shaped as a stylized hen, it celebrates the tori (酉) zodiac, symbolizing the Year of the Rooster. The piece is adorned with the character 酉, delicately inscribed on its back, marking it as part of Kitamura’s series inspired by the twelve zodiac animals.
Rendered in a warm, speckled yellow glaze with subtle ash-glaze (haigiyō) effects, the hen’s form feels both rustic and serene. The fine details of its beak, comb, and wings highlight Kitamura’s sensitivity to texture and proportion, while the tactile surface evokes the natural charm of hand-formed clay.
Takashi Kitamura’s artistry blends classical Kutani-yaki techniques—noted for their vivid overglaze enamels and decorative richness—with a modern sense of form and restraint. His works often balance refined color glazes, ash glazes (haigiyō), and gold or silver accents, achieving both elegance and warmth.
Recurring themes in his work include animals, landscapes, and motifs of Japanese folklore, such as cranes, ships, and zodiac creatures. His tactile surfaces and organic glazes convey a connection to natural materials and traditional Japanese aesthetics.
Size: 7 x 5.5 x 3cm (Incense Box)
10 x 9 x 6.5cm (Wood Box)
