We have had a busy last few weeks here at Kevin Page Oriental Art, working on a number of exciting projects (more to be revealed in due course). Some of our clients and followers have pointed out that in the meantime, we have neglected our popular “Item of the Month” feature a few times since the heady days of Summer.
Some of the pieces featured in previous “Item of the Month” articles
So, to rectify that, we will be featuring two special pieces this month and a further two in December. First up is this recent addition to our website, a wonderful set of five Japanese miniature Cloisonne vases.
(As always with our blogs and articles, you can click on any of the images to take a closer look.)
On first inspection, these little vases appear to simply be a wonderful example of Meiji-era enamel-work but they are actually receptacles for a popular Japanese game called “Kō-awase” (“The Incense Competition.”)
Kō-awase is a traditional Japanese game integral to the art of Kōdō (the Way of Incense). With origins in the Heian era (794-1185 CE), it is a sophisticated activity where participants “listen” (yes, that’s right, “listen” is an expression for mindfully inhaling) to different fragrances in an attempt to identify and differentiate them.
The main goal of the competition is for participants to test their sense of smell and powers of mindfulness by identifying the odour of different essential oils released when various types of wood are heated over charcoal.
The essential oils are passed around in a specific order and participants then smell (or “listen”) to the fragrance and then make a note of their impressions in a special book.
An exercise in refinement, once all the scents have been presented, the participants are invited to compare their notes and points are awarded for correct identification. More than just a competition to find a winner (or a loser) though, the focus is more weighted towards participation, enjoyment and appreciation of the fragrance (“Kumiko”).
Games of Kō-awase are often themed in reference to classical Japanese literature, seasonal themes, poetry (“waka”) or travel and in this case, each of the five vases contain characters from the legendary Tale of Genji.
The Tale of Genji is a Japanese epic written by Murasaki Shikibu in the 11th Century. It is thought of by many as the world’s first novel, chronicling the life of the Shining Prince Hikaru Genji. Genji was a gifted and handsome son of an Emperor who was removed from the line of succession. It is a tale that explores themes of politics, love, jealousy and the transient nature and beauty of life.
Each, different coloured vase is also decorated with minute depictions of floral and fauna.
Kodo (incense appreciation) is one of the Three Japanese Arts of Refinement. The other two being Kado (the appreciation of flowers) and Chado (the way of tea). These traditions have been studied and practiced in Japan for centuries and are an important part of Japanese culture and history.
You can read our blog about “Hanakotaba” (the Japanese language of flowers) by Clicking Here or on the image below and in the New Year, we will be publishing articles about Ikebana and the significance of Tea in Japan.
You can also find over 100 articles and short stories inspired by our collection of Chinese and Japanese Fine Art and Antiques by Clicking Here.