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Hand-Held Incense Burner
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Hand-Held Incense Burner
CHINA; Tang dynasty (618–907); Bronze; L: 41.6 cm; Hakutsuru Fine Art Museum, Kobe, Japan
The incense burner consists of a bowl, base, and long handle. All components were cast separately, then riveted and welded together. The shallow round bowl is flared to form a wide mouth, and there is a seated lion on the rim. The bowl rests on a Sumeru stand, which is supported by a chrysanthemum-shaped base. The forged handle follows the contours of the bowl and bends underneath. Where the handle meets the bowl at the rim, there is a round, flat disk with a point. The other end of the handle bends to form a platform for a lion seated upon a lotus pedestal. Both lions, as well as the support for the bowl are gilded. |
