Red Fish Lacquered Incense box

A wooden lacquered box carved in the shape of a fish, finished in deep red urushi with hand painted black detailing. The box opens at the body to reveal a shallow interior, originally used during tea gatherings as an incense container, known in Japanese as a 香合 (kōgō). Likely produced in the Showa period circa 1960s to 1970s, it reflects the playful use of animal motifs within traditional tea ceremony objects.