Incense Burner (Kōro) in the Shape of a Courtier’s Hat with Scrolling Peonies

Over a relief pattern of peonies and scrolling vines, this incense burner is coated with one or more thick layers of glaze, characteristic of Nabeshima-type celadon ware. The vessel’s complex form is modeled after the headwear of courtiers of the Heian period (794–1185). As revealed in the macrophotograph, it was constructed from multiple porcelain sections that were precisely joined, pierced, carved, and stamped, with details such as the stylized cord then applied in relief. At the back, the folded porcelain “tail”—originally made slightly lower than the cap’s edge—has broken and been restored several times, testifying to both the object’s fragility and its enduring value.