Vintage Japanese Ceramic Incense Burner by Kurimoto Yosuke, Late Showa (c. 1980s) | SKU: 26M-943

Vintage Japanese Ceramic Incense Burner by Kurimoto Yosuke, Late Showa (c. 1980s) | SKU: 26M-943

A rare signed studio pottery incense burner by Kurimoto Yosuke, complete with artist biography card and separate ceramic insert.

This remarkable piece is an incense burner created by Kurimoto Yosuke (born Tokyo, 1947), a ceramicist whose biography reads like a novel: art studies at the Ecole nationale superieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris under Sange, years wandering Morocco and a decade living in Algeria, then a return to Japan in 1980 where he turned to three-dimensional ceramic sculpture, established his own kiln in Tomisato-machi, Chiba, and joined the Japan Kogei-kai East Japan Branch Chiba Study Group. The burner is formed as a rounded, dome-shaped human face with lightly closed eyes, a broad nose, full lips, and a quietly contemplative expression, hand-modeled in coarse, unglazed terracotta-toned stoneware that reveals the raw grit of the clay body. A separate oval ceramic insert accompanies the main body and shows darkened interior use marks, supporting its function as a koro for incense. The earthy, heavily textured surface and quietly monumental presence reflect both the wabi-sabi sensibility Kurimoto absorbed during his years abroad and the expressive sculptural tradition of Japanese kogei.

In a modern home, this piece works beautifully as both a functional incense burner and a sculptural accent. It brings immediate character to a meditation corner, reading nook, entry console, or shelf display, especially in interiors that favor natural materials, muted tones, and wabi-sabi or Japandi styling. Even when not in use, the serene facial form gives the piece a calm, contemplative presence. Complete with its separate insert, presentation box, and original artist biography card, it also makes a memorable gift for collectors of Japanese studio pottery and ceramic art.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa); likely created after the artist's return to Japan in 1980
• Material: Unglazed coarse stoneware in a terracotta-brown tone
• Use: Incense burner (koro)
• Modern Use: Incense ritual piece; meditative decor object; shelf or console display accent
• Features: Rounded hand-modeled face form with closed eyes and prominent nose; separate oval ceramic insert; darkened interior residue from prior incense use; unglazed heavily textured surface; artist biography card included; presentation box included
• Dimensions: 4" Diameter x 4"H
• Condition: Very good vintage condition with visible firing texture, minor surface irregularities, and interior use wear/residue consistent with age and function

A distinctive piece of vintage Japanese studio pottery that unites sculptural presence with the quiet functionality of an artist-made incense burner.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All vintage items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.