Incense Burner with Flowers and Dots

Yohei III made incense burners in a wide variety of designs and styles. The body and glaze of this one are taihakuji, or “great white porcelain,” an important early invention Yohei III devised in 1872 that involved the combination of a distinctive translucent, creamy glaze over an ivory-colored clay body. The silver lid is meant to look like a single flower. The vessel has tapering legs with a combined curvilinear and geometric design; the bands encircling the middle have simple, incised flower motifs alternating with single dots.