{"product_id":"japanese-wood-fired-shigaraki-natural-ash-glazed-kogo-incense-case-gingko-leaf-motif","title":"Japanese Wood-fired Shigaraki Natural-Ash-Glazed Kōgō\/Incense Case, Gingko Leaf Motif","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eA small Shigaraki incense case (kōgō) by ceramic artist Kiyoko Kohyama, shaped in the form of a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eginkgo leaf\u003c\/span\u003e. Compact and sculptural, the piece follows the distinctive fan-like silhouette of the leaf, with gently incised veins radiating across the lid and softly irregular edges that preserve the character of the maker’s hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe case is composed of two fitted sections, with the ginkgo leaf-shaped lid resting over a slightly lighter-toned base. Its warm reddish-brown surface is punctuated by pale mineral specks characteristic of Shigaraki clay, while subtle variations in color and texture reflect the effects of wood-kiln firing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe piece is finished with \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eshizen-yū\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, or natural ash glaze, created as wood ash settles onto the clay during firing and melts at high temperature. Rather than forming a uniform surface, the ash produces understated areas of sheen and tonal variation, allowing the natural texture of the clay and traces of the firing process to remain visible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWhen closed, the kōgō reads as a small sculptural ginkgo leaf. The incised veins, gently curved edges, and fan-shaped form give the piece a quiet sense of movement, while the fitted construction reveals its function as a small container for incense.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThrough the combination of Shigaraki clay, natural ash glazing, and wood firing, Kohyama allows material, fire, and natural form to become the primary decoration. The result is a tactile, understated object that balances function with the organic beauty of the ginkgo leaf.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDimensions: W 2.3\" x L 3\" x 1.5 H \"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Kiyoko Kohyama:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kiyoko Kohyama, also romanized as Kiyoko Koyama, was an important Japanese ceramic artist associated with Shigaraki, one of Japan’s historic pottery centers. Born in Nagasaki Prefecture, she moved with her family to Shigaraki during the wartime period and became deeply interested in the area’s ancient kiln sites and archaeological ceramic fragments. Those discoveries helped shape her lifelong interest in reviving the natural surfaces and firing methods of early Shigaraki ware.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eKohyama became particularly known for working with \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eanagama\u003c\/span\u003e, traditional wood-fired tunnel kilns in which prolonged firing allows wood ash and flame to interact directly with the clay. Rather than relying primarily on applied glaze, she pursued surfaces created through the firing itself—earthy color, ash deposits, flashing and irregular textures produced by clay, heat and fire. She established her own kiln and became one of the notable women working in a field that, especially at the time, was heavily male-dominated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eHer importance also extends beyond her own ceramics. Kohyama trained younger potters—ceramist Kazue Tsukuda, for example, apprenticed with her for two years—and became part of a generation of Japanese women who expanded the possibilities for women working independently with demanding wood-firing traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eHer life later became widely known through her advocacy for bone-marrow donation after her son developed leukemia. Her story inspired the Japanese feature film \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eHi-bi: Days of Fire\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, released in 2005, in which actress Yuko Tanaka portrayed Kohyama.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIn relation to the small flower-shaped piece you photographed, it is useful to see it within this larger practice: even at an intimate scale, the emphasis on tactile clay, irregular handmade form, earthy coloration and the physical character of the material connects naturally with Kohyama’s broader commitment to pottery grounded in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eShigaraki clay, fire and direct contact with the hand\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kiyoko Kohyama","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50525056925885,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0583\/5217\/3245\/files\/IMG_4553.jpg?v=1790201298","url":"https:\/\/www.earthenarchive.com\/products\/japanese-wood-fired-shigaraki-natural-ash-glazed-kogo-incense-case-gingko-leaf-motif","provider":"EarthenArchive","version":"1.0","type":"link"}