Rikyu type incense burner

Rikyu Type Incense Burner

Named after the tea master Sen no Rikyu, the "Rikyu-gata" is a classic, understated incense-burner shape long favoured in the tea ceremony (chanoyu) for its quiet, balanced silhouette. This large-size example is wrapped in a hand-engraved karakusa (scrolling arabesque vine) pattern, a motif that has symbolised vitality and continuity since it arrived in Japan via the Silk Road centuries ago.

Cast in solid copper by Takaoka artisans, the piece is left in its natural copper tone, allowing the fine engraving of the vine pattern to stand out crisply across the surface.

Takaoka, in Toyama Prefecture, has been producing cast metalwork for over 400 years, and its artisans remain known for combining traditional sand-mould casting with meticulous hand engraving to create incense burners suited to both formal tea settings and everyday use.

How to Use

Place a layer of ash in the bowl, then set incense sticks, cones, or lit charcoal into the ash to burn as usual.

Product Details

• Material: Copper
• Size: 9.5 cm diameter x 11 cm height (3.74 in x 4.33 in)
• Includes: Paulownia wood box