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Satsuma Porcelain Koro with Bodhidharma Finial

Japanese koro incense burner with a figure of Daruma on the lid, decorated with phoenix and floral motifs in red, green, and gold. - view 1
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Estimated value

$150 - $350

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Era

Late Meiji Period (circa 1890-1910)

Origin

🇯🇵 Japan

Authenticity

High(70%)
19

SATSUMA PORCELAIN KORO WITH BODHIDHARMA FINIAL: IDENTIFICATION

A rectangular ceramic incense burner (koro) featuring a raised finial of Daruma (Bodhidharma) emerging from a polychrome robe. The vessel body is decorated in the late Meiji 'Imari' style palette, showcasing underglaze blue and overglaze iron-red enamels, with a Hō-ō (phoenix) motif and paulownia leaves. The lid includes circular perforations for smoke ventilation, and the handles are modeled as stylized zoomorphic masks.

Compare with other ceramic pieces in the archive: Alabaster Urn-Shaped Vase, Han Dynasty Style Glazed Ceramic Boar Figurine, Chinese Blue and White 'Three Friends of Winter' Stem Cup, Ming Style.

PRODUCTION & FIRING

This koro dates to the late Meiji period, circa 1890-1910, a time when Japanese kilns heavily exported 'Old Imari' and 'Satsuma' style wares to Western markets. The depiction of Daruma, the founder of Zen Buddhism, as a lid finial was a popular motif for domestic and export wares made in regions ...
This koro dates to the late Meiji period, circa 1890-1910, a time when Japanese kilns heavily exported 'Old Imari' and 'Satsuma' style wares to Western markets. The depiction of Daruma, the founder of Zen Buddhism, as a lid finial was a popular motif for domestic and export wares made in regions like Kyoto or Yokohama. The use of bright enamels and heavy gilding reflects the 'Kyoto Satsuma' aesthetic designed to appeal to Victorian and Edwardian tastes for Japonisme.

SCARCITY

Average55-70%
CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Rarity 4/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 100 ceramics items at rarity 4 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Standard antique shop items
  • Regularly available
  • Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

  • Decorative style is consistent with high-volume export wares from the late 19th century
  • Surface wear on the gilding and soot residue in vents align with the stated era
  • Lack of identifying maker's mark suggests a smaller workshop production rather than a major house like Kinkozan
How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Ceramics Historian & Kiln Specialist

Ceramics Expert

The form and decorative vocabulary are highly characteristic of Meiji export ceramics, though the lack of a visible base mark prevents specific factory attribution.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Satsuma-style cream crackle glaze visible in lid undersides
  • 2Imari-influenced color palette (iron red and green) typical of export-grade wares
  • 3Anthropomorphic finial modeled as Daruma with functional ventilation through the mouth
  • 4Zoomorphic (beast-head) handles common in Meiji period koro designs
  • 5Gilding wear profile consistent with late 19th-century mercury gilding techniques

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Absence of a kiln mark or artist signature on the base (expected in higher-tier pieces)
  • •Pitting in the white glaze suggests a mass-market production standard

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Photograph the underside/base to check for impressed or painted marks
  • →Examine the interior for unglazed 'biscuit' areas which reveal the true color of the clay body
  • →Perform a UV light check on the phoenix panel to rule out overpainted enamel repairs

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

Significant loss of gilding on the rectangular rim and Daruma figure. Visible dirt and carbon residue in the smoke vents suggest historical use as a functional incense burner. No visible hairline fractures on the primary body panels, though minor crazing is present in the lead-fluxed glaze.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$150 - $350

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Collectors of Meiji-era Japanese decorative arts and practitioners of incense culture.

What increases value

  • •Detail and expression of the Daruma finial
  • •Completeness of the set (matching lid and body)
  • •Popularity of the phoenix and paulownia (imperial) motifs

What lowers value

  • •Heavy loss of gold gilt significantly impacts visual appeal
  • •Chip or hairlines on the rectangular corners (common stress points)

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Signatures from the Kinkozan or Yabu Meizan workshops
  • •Extremely fine 'miniature' painting within the panels

Grade & condition

Completeness of gilding, glaze integrity, and clarity of the character's facial molding.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandModerate liquidity
Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

BR

bruinsma
The Connoisseur•57 items

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