Japanese Kogo - 仙 Dog-shaped Incense Container

This ceramic kōgō (incense container) is made in the shape of a dog and glazed with a transparent glaze that shows off the texture of the clay.

Signed 仙

In Japanese tea ceremony, wooden and lacquer kōgō (香合) are used to hold kōboku (香木 - fragrant wood incense) during the furo (風炉 - brazier) season while ceramic kōgō are used to hold nerikō (練り香 - kneaded incense) during the ro (炉 - hearth) season.