Bizen Kōshin Incense Container

This is a Bizen sake cup by the world-renowned master Zenji Urakami, a holder of intangible cultural properties who achieved numerous honors. The box inscription identifies it as a "Koshin" (Monkey) incense container made in 1980. It depicts a charming monkey holding a peach and gazing at the stars, a scene that brings peace to the heart. Fine spatula marks have been carved into the shoulders to represent the texture of the monkey's fur. Includes original signed wooden box (shiho-zan)
Diameter 5.8cm × Diameter 5.3cm × Height 7.8cm Zenji Urakami (1914–2006) was born in Imbe and began his path in ceramics under the tutelage of Shuko Nishimura. In 1935, he became a student of Japan Art Academy member Seibo Kitamura to study sculpture, while also learning wood carving from Shin Naito and sketching from Saburo Okada and Sakujiro Okubo. He excelled at creating lifelike animal figurines, bronze statues, and ceramic murals based on realism. His major works include the ceramic wall at Okayama Airport, the ceramic plaque of Grand Master Oyama at the Kurashiki City Art Museum, the bronze bust of Toyo Kaneshige at the Bizen Pottery Museum, and the ceramic statue of Kojima Takanori in Tsuyama City. In 1973, his ox figurine won the gold medal at the Le Salon 300th Anniversary Exhibition. That same year, he was designated as a holder of Okayama Prefecture’s Important Intangible Cultural Property. He passed away in March 2006.
Awards and honors include: Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Miki Memorial Award, French Chagall Honorary Award, Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette, Grand Prix at the Salon de Paris exhibition, and many others / Member of the Prefectural Exhibition judging committee