Takaoka Metalwork Tamagata Sanyu pattern Incense Burner

Takaoka Metalwork Tamagata Sanyu Pattern Incense Burner

This round, jewel-shaped (tamagata) incense burner is decorated with the Three Friends of Winter (sanyu) motif—pine, bamboo, and plum—a grouping that has symbolised endurance, integrity, and renewal in East Asian art for centuries, as each plant thrives even through the cold of winter.

The piece is the work of Suka Getsuho, a Takaoka artisan, and is finished in a burnished antique bronze-tone (yaki-seidou) patina that gives the copper surface a rich, weathered depth.

Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, has been home to master metal casters for over 400 years. The rounded tamagata form and the fine detailing of the pine, bamboo, and plum motif reflect the meticulous hand-finishing techniques passed down through generations of local workshops.

How to Use

Place a layer of ash in the bowl, then set incense sticks, cones, or lit charcoal into the ash to enjoy the fragrance as it burns.

Product Details

• Material: Copper, burnished antique bronze-tone finish
• Size: 9.5 cm diameter x 8.5 cm height (3.74 in x 3.35 in)
• Includes: Paulownia wood box
• Artist: Suka Getsuho