Ten-Round Incense Game

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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