MAKUZU KOZAN II: A FINE RELIEF-MOLDED STUDIO PORCELAIN KOGO (INCENSE CONTAINER)

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MAKUZU KOZAN II: A FINE RELIEF-MOLDED STUDIO PORCELAIN KOGO (INCENSE CONTAINER) By Makuzu Kozan II (1859-1940), signed Makuzu Japan, dated 1941 Finely molded and painted in vibrant glazes to depict the longing wife of Minamoto no Yoshiie wrapped in an outsized kimono that is tied around the waist and seated above a sode (armor piece for the shoulder), the tassels finely rendered in relief and openwork, and centered by a small container. Signed underneath MAKUZU in an oval reserve. LENGTH 6.5 cm With a wood tomobako enclosing a hakogaki inscribed ‘Gokusaishiki, Hachiman ko, hachijusan o Kozan saku, Makuzu Kozan shirusu, 極彩色、八幡公、八十三翁香山作、真葛香山識 [Lord Hachimantaro Minamoto no Yoshiie (represented in his suit of armor), in polychrome enamel colors, made by Kozan at the age of 83, this is inscribed by Makuzu Kozan, with the seal Kozan]. Makuzu Kozan II (1859-1940), born Miyagawa Hannosuke, was the adopted son and successor of Makuzu Kozan I. Known for his exceptional skill in porcelain, he played an active role in the Makuzu workshop from an early stage. After the death of his father, he assumed the name Makuzu Kozan II in 1917 and continued the legacy of high-quality porcelain, contributing significantly to the success and international recognition of studio ceramics. The present kogo likely depicts the wife of Minamoto no Yoshiie, a celebrated warrior of the Heian period, renowned for his leadership in the Earlier and Later Three Years’ Wars in northern Japan. Minamoto no Yoshiie, also known as Hachimantaro, was revered not only for his military prowess but also for his chivalric conduct. He is often honored as a model of loyalty and valor, core values of the samurai tradition. In this portrayal, the wife’s longing expression, symbolized by the elaborate sode (shoulder armor), adds emotional depth to the piece, evoking themes of waiting for the return of a warrior - a sentiment deeply embedded in the samurai ethos.

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