This is a kogo (incense container) made by Shoami Takano. It is a Kiyomizu-yaki (Kyoto-style pottery) incense container with a glossy white base and intricate, lovely colored絵付け (e-zuke - painted design). The motif is a stone mill (tea mill) used to grind tencha (tea leaves) to make matcha (powdered green tea). The stone mill has long been an essential part of life and has also been considered a symbol of sacred rituals. Generally, the "usu" (mortar) symbolizes the female, and the "kine" (pestle) symbolizes the male, sometimes signifying the harmony of male and female, the creation of life, and the bonds of family. The tea mill is the opposite of the stone mill in terms of the female and male parts... The lower stone of the container is decorated with flower paintings, and the upper stone is decorated with feather paintings, which is exactly the image of female and male. There may be a hidden theme of the integration of femininity and masculinity, the harmony of yin and yang, and the harmony of husband and wife. Please enjoy it as a container for incense to purify the space, and as a display item not only for the tea ceremony but also for the tokonoma (alcove). Approximate size: 7cm x 7cm x 4cm Wooden box size: 8.7cm x 8.7cm x 6cm The wooden box has some stains. Please refrain from purchasing if you are concerned as it is not new. Thank you for viewing.