A RARE MYOCHIN INLAID IRON KORO

A RARE MYOCHIN INLAID IRON KORO

EDO OR MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY

The incense burner of rectangular form and decorated with Fudo Myoo and his two attendants Kongara and Seitaka, the powerful King of Immutable Wisdom and Vanquisher of Evil holding the kurikara (devil-subduing) sword and a lasso to catch and bind up the wicked; the God and his acolytes surrounded by the halo of flames that destroys ignorance; the opposite side with a large shishi clambering upon a rock; the other sides each with a long-tailed bird in flight holding a knotted cord in its beak, and a large chrysanthemum flower underneath; the cover decorated with geometric patterns and shaped apertures for the smoke to escape, the underside of the lid with a cut-out design of a similar bird; all raised on four legs shaped as archaistic monsters, the handles to the side with further stylised creatures suspending loose rings; the decoration rendered in low relief and with details inlaid in silver and gold, inscribed Myochin ki Munenori beside Fudo Myoo to the front, 40cm. (3)

Provenance: sold in these rooms, Asian Art II, 18th May 2016, lot 810.

Myochin Munenori is recorded as a retainer of the Lords of Tsuchiya, in the province of Hitachi. He also used the name Yukiye. Munenori is particularly known for his kabuto (samurai helmets) which makes this incense burner particularly unusual. It is possible that the koro was a unique and special commission for a wealthy client.