A late Ming Dynasty ko-sometsuke kogo (incense container box and cover) naturalistically modelled in the form of a plump peach, painted in rich tones of underglaze cobalt blue with scattered splashes of fukizumi (blown-ink)
 
Ko-sometsuke (Old Blue-and-White) made for the Japanese market
Jingdezhen kiln, Jiangxi province, China
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644); 17th century
 
 
Measurements
4.0 cm high;  4.9 cm long; 2.9 cm wide
 
Description
Measurements 
6.5cm long; 5.0cm wide; 4.0cm high
 
Description
A delightful Chinese porcelain blue and white ko-sometsuke kogo (incense container) naturalistically modelled in the form of a plump peach, the moulded stem and leaves boldly decorated in rich tones of underglaze cobalt blue, the sides of the cover and base splashed with fukizumi (blown-ink technique).  
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The present example of particularily desirable and rare form. A similarly-shaped peach incense container was ranked in the Katamono-Kogo Banzuke (treasured incense container ranking list published in 1855 - see details below). 
 
The “Katamono Kogo sumo banzuke” published in 1855 was a ranking list produced by tea ceremony Masters, merchants, and connoisseurs from Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and Kanazawa. This chart, which rated legendary Kogo (small lidded containers for incense used in tea ceremonies) was the result of a friendly competitive vote amongst connoisseurs. Many of the Kogo on the list were produced in China for export to Japan and are considered today to be amongst the greatest treasures of tea ceremony implements.
 
With a traditional Japanese storage box, inner cloths and ribbon.
 
Condition
Generally very good condition with one flake (less than 0.5cm) to the edge of the cover. Otherwise excellent, unrestored, original condition. Expected minor glaze flakes (mushikui) at edges.