Bizen ware cat-shaped incense container

This is a Bizen cat-shaped incense container (kōgō) by Yozan Isezaki, who was born in Imbe and left behind numerous masterpieces of ceramic crafts and figures, and was designated as a prefectural intangible cultural property holder. A work characteristic of Yozan, a master of ceramic crafts, it accurately captures the cuteness of a cat dozing in a sunny spot with a simple yet elegant touch. The light firing, with little ash glaze, suits the cat perfectly. While crafted as an incense container, its high level of perfection makes it enjoyable even just as a decorative piece. Signed box by Atsushi (Shiho-san)
Diameter 7.5cm × Diameter 5.6cm × Height 4.9cm Yozan Isezaki was born in Imbe in 1902. Although he initially aspired to be a Japanese-style painter, due to family circumstances, he mastered traditional spatula techniques at the Korakuen kiln. He studied pottery techniques under Yusen Tajima at a young age and established his own kiln in 1933. Skilled in ceramic crafts, he left behind masterpieces of ceramic figures and ornaments, and created large-scale ceramic statues such as those of Shinsaku Takasugi, Hiromushi Wake, and Kiyomaro Wake in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture. In his later years, he also worked on the potter's wheel. He restored an ancient kiln in the Koya Mountains and was also a holder of a prefectural important intangible cultural property. He passed away in 1961 at the age of 60.