A rare 17th century ko-sometsuke square kōgō (incense container box) the slightly domed 'cushion' cover boldly painted with a recumbent ox, the sides with bird-in-trellis pattern
 
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China
17th century
Ko-sometsuke (Old Blue-and-White) made for Japan
 
Measurements 
4.8cm wide x 4.8cm long x 4.5cm high
 
Description
The domed cushion-top hastily painted with a recumbent ox, the four sides decorated with a continuous criss-cross trellis pattern centred by a bird-like design in each diamond opening. The base unglazed, the interior partially glazed.
 
A highly desirable ko-sometsuke incense container, the plump cushion-top with recumbent ox box was ranked ninth in the west front rank on the Katamono-Kogo Banzuke (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.
 
 
Ko-Sometsuke, meaning "Old Blue and White" is the term used to describe Chinese blue and white porcelain made for the Japanese market during the late Ming Dynasty. Ko-sometsuke wares were produced from the Wanli period (1573-1620) to the Chongzhen period (1628-1644), with the main period of production being the Tianqi period (1621-27). The objects produced were made specifically for the Japanese market, with the shapes and the designs being tailored to the Japanese taste. The shapes created were often expressly made for the Japanese Kaiseki (Tea Ceremony meal) and included mukozuke (small food dishes), kōro (incense burners), and kōgō (small incense containers).
 
With a traditional Japanese storage box, inner cloths and ribbon.
 
Condition
In very good original condition with no cracks or restoration. Mushiku ('moth-eaten nibbles') and natural bubble bursts present on edges.