A MASSIVE JAPANESE PARCEL-GILT BRONZE TEMPLE INCENSE BURNER

A MASSIVE JAPANESE PARCEL-GILT BRONZE TEMPLE INCENSE BURNER, KORO

EDO 1603-1868

Raised on a large double lotus base, with three supports shaped as oni, the demons depicted in various postures and supporting the bulbous body, the belly with a large mon to the front depicting a Mandarin orange blossom in a square, with a gilt neck and two large cloud-shaped handles to the sides, the lid with many shaped apertures and topped with a ferocious-looking crouching shishi, the stand with a long inscription and signature, 110cm overall. (5)

Provenance: a private collection, Thailand.

The mon depicting a Mandarin orange flower is the symbol of the Nichiren School of Buddhism, adopted in the 16th century and inspired by the family crest of the Li samurai clan who became important devotees. The Nichiren School is also referred to as the Minobu Sect due to their prominence in the Mount Minobu area in central Honshu.

The lotus-shaped pedestal of this incense burner is inscribed with numerous lines of calligraphy giving more information on the origin of the piece. The six large characters to the front read 'Akasaka, Great Ceremonial Drum' and the reverse bares the names of the many donors who participated in the production of the piece.

The signature at the back of the base, 江戸大門通角 鋳工 伊勢屋長兵衛作, Edo Daimon tsukaku Iseya Chobei saku, refers to Iseya Chobei, then working at the corner of Daimon Road, Edo (Tokyo). Iseya Chobei has been described by some as a metalworker active in the late 18th / early 19th century and by others as a merchant supplying goods to Buddhist temples in different regions of Japan. His name is also engraved on a copper torii gate at the entrance of Kotohiragu Shrine in the Minato Ward, Tokyo, which used to be the southern entrance to Edo Castle. Akasaka, the place mentioned on the front of this incense burner, is also located in the Minato Ward about ten minutes away and Daimon Road, where Chobei was based, is about twenty minutes South. It thus seems that Chobei was particularly active in the area.

A large and important statue of Amida Buddha at the Musée Cernuschi in Paris also bears his signature. The massive 18th century bronze figure was originally on display at the small temple of Banryuji in the Meguro District of Tokyo. Théodore Duret reports in 'Travels to Asia' how Cernuschi bought the statue from the Zojoji monastry against the will of local residents. The figure was carved into pieces and sent back to Paris, where it was exhibited at the Palace of Industry before being moved to Cernuschi's house.