Early 19th Century Oribe Incense Container "Kogo" in the Form of a Bird, Edward Morse Collection, Boston Museum Identification

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Offered is an Oribe Incense Container (Kogo ) in the Form of a Bird. A nearly identical example was acquired … Read more Offered is an Oribe Incense Container (Kogo ) in the Form of a Bird. A nearly identical example was acquired by Edward Morse in the 19th Century, and held in the Morse Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

The Kogo measures 1 7/8" L x 1 1/4" W x 1 1/8" H
The tomobako was acquired with the piece. The top is lost.
The base measures 2' x 2 1/8" x 1 3/8" in height

A crude form for the body of each example appears to have been cast from the same mold. However, all of the details were hand-done. There are slight variations to the eyes, wings, and incisions. Significantly, my Kogo is marked towards the inside top section.

Another variation is in the same green glaze. Both are typical Oribe glazes that were favored for the Tea Ceremony. However, the example I have has a thicker, mottled glaze. One side is reminiscent of the glaze often found on some Grueby Pottery.


My last photo is identified as being in "Public Domain", from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

It is titled "Incense box in form of bird", and is given a date of 1830

The dimensions are given as 1 7/8" in length, which is identical to the example offered.

The provenance and acquisition come from the renounedMorse Collection.

Accesion # 92.4160a-b

Phillips Library, Peabody Essex Museum:

"While in Japan, Morse also developed an interest in Japanese pottery. In 1890, his extensive pottery collection of more than 5,000 pieces was deposited on loan at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and was purchased by the museum two years later. At that time, Morse was appointed Keeper of Japanese Pottery, an office he held until his death. In 1880, after having returned to Salem, Massachusetts, Morse was made Director of the Peabody Museum, a position he held until 1916, when he was named Director Emeritus. A liberal leave of absence enabled Morse to return to Japan in 1882 and devote himself to the observation and description of Japanese culture." See less