Features
A gourd form with auspicious meaning
In Japanese and Chinese culture the gourd stands for fortune and rank and for peace and protection from harm. Used as an incense holder it is practical and carries a small sense of guardianship, well suited to a personal working or resting space.
Hand-painted green vines, with a Japanese playfulness
The green vines are hand-painted on the cream-white glaze, the lines slightly thick and flowing, which gives the simple gourd form a touch of liveliness and keeps it from being too solemn.
Light and compact, easy to store and to move
8.5 cm long × 4.2 cm wide × 4.1 cm high, small enough to take up no room; it suits standing on a tray together with tea utensils and an incense box, and is easy to carry to a studio or on a trip.
Designed for incense sticks, simple to use
The hole in the centre takes an ordinary thin incense stick; once lit, the ash falls around the gourd and is easily cleared away. Used with a small dish or a heat-resistant mat, it keeps the table top clean.