Japanese Satsuma Moriage Koro (Incense Burner)

This is a small, tripod Japanese Satsuma koro, or incense burner, dating likely to the late Meiji (1868-1912) or early Taisho period. The vessel is crafted from a cream-colored earthenware with a fine crackle glaze, heavily decorated with 'moriage' (raised slip) and 'dragonware' elements. The body features hand-painted panels depicting Immortals (Arhats or Rakan) in a vibrant palette of cinnabar red, cobalt blue, and forest green, highlighted with generous gold leaf gilding. A raised dragon motif circles the shoulders, with its sculpted head and tail forming the handles of the piece. The removable lid is domed with small ventilation holes and surmounted by a 'shishi' (guardian lion) or dragon-shaped finial. The vessel stands on three cabriole-style feet tipped with gold. The craftsmanship exhibits typical export-style density with high-relief textures. Regarding condition, there is visible rubbing on the gilt highlights especially on the finial and handles, which is common for its age. The painting remains vivid, though fine crazing is present throughout the glaze. No major cracks or professional repairs are visible in the primary image, though slight soot staining may be present inside from historical use.