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I recently got this and I was told by the owner it was an incense burner but I am not sure about that.
It measures approx. 2 1/2 inches tall and the opening is 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
There is a mark on the bottom and there is some gold lettering left but it is really hard to make it out. It looks like three separate letters but I am not sure.
Here is a couple of pics of it. Maybe you might know what it is or the date.
Thank you in advance.
Your piece seems to be Japanese and in that case it is most probably from the Satsuma factory.
You can check this up yourself by studying the porcelain paste. If it is Satsuma - it is really rather earthenware than porcelain - and would have very little "ring" when tapped.
The paste should also be slightly yellowish and the glaze should have a fine meshed crackle.
Regarding what it is, I am not so sure, but it might very well be an incense burner. The thinking in that case is that incense burners are filled with sand and then incense sticks are stuck in the sand.
A probably age is early 20th century.
Thank you for your interest.
Best regards,
Jan-Erik Nilsson
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