(English follows Japanese)

香を焚いたり聞いたりするための器「香炉」にも、様々な種類があります。香炉の火舎（火屋とも：ホヤ）の製作も、私共の仕事の一つ。

写真は、香道で主に用いる「阿古陀（あこだ）」香炉。胴部は、桑の木をくり貫いて作ります。昨今は桑の木がなかなか手に入らず、価格も高騰しています。阿古陀とは瓜の一種で、その瓜に似ていることから呼ばれています。

金属加工は大概、上から見て丸い同心円のもの、もしくは二次元的・直線的なものの成形は容易です。逆に、構成する角や曲線・曲面の数が多いほど難易度が高いと言えます。弊堂の仕事でもっとも成形加工の難しい部類に入るのが、この阿古陀香炉の金具部分。外観だけでなく、火舎と落としの合口（あいくち）も六つ割りになってい、どの向きからでも火舎がきっちり入る様に緻密かつ正確に成形せねばなりません。厚さ１ミリ前後の純銀板を用いて製作します。

Many kinds of incense burners

There are many types of censers,” which are used for burning and smelling incense. The crafting of the Hoya (inner container) is also one of our responsibilities.

This photograph is of an “Akoda” (gourd shaped) censer, which is primarily used for Kodo, the Way of Incense. The body is made by hollowing out a mulberry tree. Recently it has been difficult to acquire mulberry trees, and thus the price is at a sudden rise. “Akoda” is a type of gourd, and this censer?fs name is derived from the similar shape it has to that gourd.

In metalwork, it is generally simple to form a shape that is cylindrical, relatively two dimensional, or straight. On the other hand, the more angles and curves there are to form, the more difficult it gets.
The metal fitting of this censer is one of the most complex things made in our studio. Not only is the outer shape divided into six, the fitting area of the “Hoya” and the “Otoshi” are also in the same shape and carefully formed so that the “Hoya” will fit perfectly in any direction. We use fine silver sheet that is about 1mm in thickness. Depending on the size and shape,

(From Seikado Studio)