Shidei banko will quickly develop a patina and become more glossy with use. It is natural that fingerprints will stand out on the surface in the first few months but these will begin to subside as the surface starts to develop a deep lustre. When cleaning, only use water and a soft cloth, then leave to air dry naturally. Do not use detergents or put in the dishwasher. Hard water may cause limescale deposits to develop, in which case rinse with soft bottled water, then wipe with a soft cloth.
Banko Incense Burner
Kōro 香炉
Masaki
SKU
5594
Yoshi En has recently grown out of Sunday Natural to become an independent premium tea store. As part of this transition, some products may still be shipped in Sunday Natural packaging.
Burn traditional Japanese senkō incense sticks in this sophisticated Kōro incense burner by renowned Yokkaichi Banko-yaki artisan and Certified Traditional Craftsman, Masaki Tachi. For use with white ash, also suitable for incense cones and coils.
| Product | Banko-yaki Incense Burner |
| Origin | Yokkaichi, Mie prefecture, Japan |
| Maker | Masaki |
| Dimensions | Ø10.5 x 8cm |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Decoration | Openwork petals on lid |
| Finish | Unglazed (yakishime) |
| Manufacture | Potter's wheel (rokuro) |
| Artist's Mark | Seal to base |
| Packaging | Signed wooden box (kiribako) |
Each item is handmade therefore patterning, colour and size may vary slightly.
In stock
Masaki 正規
Certified Traditional Craftsman Masaki Tachi is considered one of the top Banko Kyusu artisans of his time, having been awarded a Minister’s Prize at the tender age of 21 and subsequently recognised as an Intangible Cultural Property of the city of Yokkaichi – accolades made ever more noteworthy as a first generation potter. Having learned under a master craftsman from the very beginning (rather than taking a more typical arts school route), Masaki's fluency of the potter’s wheel enables him to work at phenomenal speed: and offer exquisite works at affordable prices, which he hopes ensures they get used! As a kyusu craftsman who believes in functional beauty, for him, the highest compliment is for people to enjoy delicious tea brewed in a kyusu. Needless to say he is a favourite among teaware enthusiasts.
Kōro 香炉
The traditional Japanese incense burner, kōro are ceramic or metal containers, typically with three feet and a lid with openings to release the fragrant smoke. To use a kōro, fill half-way with white ash or sand, put the lid on and stand lit incense sticks through the holes in the lid, or if using incense cones or coils, place these directly on top of the ash, light, and put the lid back on.
Yokkaichi Banko-yaki 四日市萬古焼
Yokkaichi Banko-yaki 四日市萬古焼
Merchant and passionate chajin (“tea person”) Nunami Rozan is credited as the founding father of Banko-yaki. Back in the 18th century he opened a kiln in what is now Asahi-machi, Mie prefecture, and would stamp his wares with 萬古不易 – banko-fueki: “eternally unchanging” – in the hope that his ceramics would be passed down across generations forever. Today Banko-yaki is still produced in the Mie prefecture, primarily in the city of Yokkaichi, and is a protected traditional craft of Japan. Synonymous with Banko is the local, iron-rich shidei "purple clay", which when baked in a high-temperature reduction furnace becomes very heat resistant and turns into the characteristic deep violet-brown of Banko-yaki, with an almost metallic sheen.
