YOSHITA MINORI (1932-) An Incense Burner with Camellias Heisei era (1989-2019), 2014Property of various ownersYOSHITA MINORI (1932-)An Incense Burner with Camellias Heisei era (1989-2019), 2014The cylindrical kōro supported on three feet, the lid pierced with five openings and with a knob shaped like the stigma of a camellia, the sides and lid decorated in underglaze gold with camellia flowers, leaves, and branches, the whole finished in a pale green glaze, the inset base with a cartouche mark Minori 5 x 3 3/4in (12.7 x 9.6cm)Living National Treasure Yoshita Minori, who took over the family kiln at Nishikiyama in 1951, is recognized for his development of yūri-kinsai, a style of porcelain decorated with gold-leaf cut-outs applied prior to glazing rather than painted with a brush. His technique is a perfect marriage of two craft traditions based in Kanazawa: Kutani porcelain and kinpaku gold leaf, the finest in Japan.