Kogo, lacquer incense box, Japan Edo period 18th century

This rare incense box, kogo, is made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) and lacquer.
On the cover, we can see the married rocks, Méoto Iwa, among the waves. It is one of the most symbolic places in Japan, since these rocks represent Izanagi and Izanami, the couple of deities who created Japan and the kami, according to Shinto principles.
The artist took advantage of the grain of the wood to represent the waves. The rocks in relief are in lacquer, as well as the inside of the box and its underside with a fine geometric decoration, in gold on a black background.

The creativity of this box makes it a very unusual object.

Diameter 9 cm, height, about 2.5 cm.