Ten-Round Incense Game
Unknown Artist
1700s–mid-1800s
Medium
Lacquered wood with gold and silver sprinkled powder (maki-e) and mother-of-pearl inlay, metal fittings
Dimensions
23 × 25.4 × 16.6 cm
Classification
Lacquer
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of George Trumbull Ladd
Accession Number
1921.405
About this artwork
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.