Cleveland Museum of Art

Ten-Round Incense Game

Date

1700s–mid-1800s

Medium

Lacquered wood with gold and silver sprinkled powder (maki-e) and mother-of-pearl inlay, metal fittings

Culture

Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

Department

Japanese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

A popular pastime in the Edo period was a game in which a group of players passed around incense and guessed its name or scent. Small pieces of incense would be placed on thin mica plates and heated over hot ash, releasing their aroma for the players to smell. Players then cast their guesses with playing pieces. The game master kept score with the writing set. This game is handsomely decorated with images of deer in an autumn setting. The blue and white porcelain containers in which the heated incense was passed feature designs of foreigners.

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