Antique Japanese Bizen Rabbit Kogo Incense Container Edo #5500

height: approx. 7 cm (2.76 in)
weight: 135g
condition: fixed, see photos

This is a Japanese Bizen rabbit kogo incense container from the late Edo period. The compact form shows a rabbit resting low with long upright ears, creating a quiet yet charming presence suited to a tea ceremony setting, seasonal display, or Japanese art pottery collection. The modeling is full and rounded, with gentle contours that preserve the natural strength of the clay body. Its surface presents a dark brown to blackish tone with varied brown and gray firing effects, revealing the distinctive kiln-created scenery associated with old Bizen ware. The face is rendered with restrained lines, while the contrast between the tall ears and rounded body gives the piece a strong sculptural rhythm. Rather than relying on glaze, the visual appeal comes from the fired clay surface, tonal variation, and earthy texture, all of which are important qualities for collectors of Bizen pottery, Japanese kogo, tea utensils, and Edo period craft objects.