Incense Box (Kōgō) with Camellias

China

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 228

Small boxes of this type, made in China and brought to Japan in some number, are often identified as incense boxes, as they were used to hold scented wood for tea gatherings. It is likely that these boxes played a similar role in China, safekeeping incense or other powdered substances such as cosmetics. The camellia spray on the cover is set against a plain background, a characteristic design of early carved lacquers that would reemerge in the sixteenth century.

On view for rotations 1 and 2

Incense Box (Kōgō) with Camellias, Carved red lacquer, China

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

overall

Incense Box (Kōgō) with Camellias, Carved red lacquer, China
Incense Box (Kōgō) with Camellias, Carved red lacquer, China
Incense Box (Kōgō) with Camellias, Carved red lacquer, China
Incense Box (Kōgō) with Camellias, Carved red lacquer, China
Incense Box (Kōgō) with Camellias, Carved red lacquer, China

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.