Anonymous

Meiji period, 19th century

1868-1912

Kogo

A small ivory kogo with a finely carved coiling dragon on the lid. The ivory would have been turned on a lathe giving it a perfect cylindrical body. These small boxes were typical of the Meiji period for exporting to the west, though these boxes were designed to hold incense they would have been used for holding all sorts of thing in the west. Incense burning would have been alien to most western people and would have only known of something similar in the catholic faith. This would have possibly been used for housing a lady’s makeup or holding small trinkets or even been a gentleman’s snuff box.

Unsigned

64mm x 42mm