Crane-shaped incense container, overglaze enamels and gold

This incense burner is in the gracious shape of a Japanese red-crowned crane, which bestows long life. In the natural curve of its beak and neck and the gentle swelling of its plumage, the skilled hand of Ninsei has captured the essence of the crane in a magnificently shaped piece. The beak and tail are painted in iron pigment over the opaque whitish ground, the feathers in gold, and the crown of the head in red for a muted effect that enhances the nobility of the bird. The interior is glazed in turguoise blue. The left side of the unglazed base bears the embossed seal of Ninsei.