 |
Incense Burner with Qilin Lid
|
| |
|
Incense Burner with Qilin Lid
KOREA; Goryeo dynasty (918–1392); Stoneware; H: 20 cm; Gansong Art Museum, Seoul, South Korea
This Buddhist ritual instrument was listed as National Treasure No. 65 in 1962. The round incense burner, decorated with cloud patterning, has a flat bottom and is supported by three legs with the faces of mythical creatures. The rim is wide and curves slightly upward. The base of the lid is decorated with a rectangular key pattern. A qilin, which is type of Chinese mythical creature, rests on the lid, looking away and up. The qilin had horns, but they have broken off. Its hair is curly on the neck and tail. The incense smoke flows from the bowl up and out through the mouth of the qilin. |
