Incense Burner

China

Not on view

Burning incense was a fashionable pastime among scholars and merchants in southeast China in the late Ming and early Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. Many of the incense burners produced during this time copied shapes from contemporaneous ceramics, while other relied on bronze forms, some of which can be traced to China’s earliest metalworking traditions. Great skill was employed in finishing the surfaces of these bronzes, which can show patinations ranging from red to green to brown with gold splashes.

Incense Burner, Bronze with treated surface, China

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Incense Burner, Bronze with treated surface, China
Incense Burner, Bronze with treated surface, China
Incense Burner, Bronze with treated surface, China

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.