Incense Box with Flowering Plum Tree 19th century

This is an incense box with a flowering plum tree, made by Ogata Kōrin during the Edo period in Japan. Kōrin was not only an artist, but also a textile designer from a family of merchants who served the Imperial court, giving him a unique vantage point to observe and interpret the cultural shifts of his time. The flowering plum design is rendered in mother-of-pearl inlay against a gold lacquer ground. In Japanese culture, the plum blossom is symbolic of resilience, renewal, and the fleeting nature of beauty. The creation of such an object was not merely decorative. The ritual use of incense was deeply woven into the social and spiritual life of the Japanese elite. Consider how the choice of materials and the delicate craftsmanship reflect a society valuing refinement, tranquility, and harmony with nature. The box is an intimate object and reflects the emotional and philosophical underpinnings of Edo-period Japan.