A very rare and characterful Ming Dynasty ko-sometsuke kōgō (incense container box) naturalistically modelled in the form of a comical and slightly curled sho-no-Ebi shrimp boldly decorated in rich tones of underglaze cobalt blue, the sides of the cover and base splashed with fukizumi (blown ink)
 
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Tianqi period (1621-1627)
Ko-sometsuke (Old Blue-and-White) made for Japan
 
Measurements 
9 cm long (3.5 inches);  cm high ( inches)
 
Description
A delightful Chinese porcelain blue and white ko-sometsuke kogo (incense container) naturalistically modelled in the form of a slightly curled sho-no-Ebi shrimp boldly decorated in rich tones of underglaze cobalt blue, the sides of the cover and base splashed with fukizumi (blown-ink technique).
 
The present example of particularily desirable and very rare form. A similarly-shaped shrimp incense container was ranked in 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).
 
Condition
In generally very good original condition with no restoration. One flake to the edge of the cover.