Accession Number
2010/1.217

Title
Incense Container in the Shape of a Raccoon Dog

Artist(s)
Kōyama Kiyoko

Object Creation Date
circa 2000

Medium & Support
stoneware with natural ash glaze

Dimensions
2 9/16 in x 1 3/4 in x 1 15/16 in (6.51 cm x 4.45 cm x 4.92 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of the artist

Subject matter
This is an incense container. The artist, Koyama Kyoko, struggled as a female potter in a trade dominated by male artists. She received recognition when she discovered a way to revive the forgotten techinique of natural ash glazes, which are commonly used in her work. The raccoon dog is called Tanuki in Japanese, and is an animal tha toften appears in folktales and legends.

Physical Description
Incense containter in the shape of a raccoon dog (tanuki). The animal is sitting upright, and the opening of the container is horizontal along a split at its belly button. The incense container is colored white, grayish blue, and reddish orange, with the last color mostly on the stomach of the figure.

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
incense burner

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
ceramic ware (visual works)
ceramics (object genre)
pottery (visual works)
stoneware (pottery)