Three Votive Implements: Incense Burner, Candlestick, and Vase
This set of votive implements comprises a decorative convention for the tokonoma alcove and is derived from the ancient Indian practice of offering gifts to a deity. The use of this arrangement in Japan can be traced to the Kamakura period (1185–1333), when it was standard practice in Zen temples to place offerings before an image of the Buddha. With the spread of religious architecture into secular contexts in the Muromachi period (1392–1573), the implements became part of the formal decoration of the tokonoma alcove.
Artwork Details
- Title: Three Votive Implements: Incense Burner, Candlestick, and Vase
- Period: Meiji period (1868–1912)
- Date: 19th century
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Bronze
- Dimensions: b: H. 11 5/16 (28.7 cm); W. (at handles) 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm)
c: H. 11 3/8 in. (28.9 cm); W. (at handles) 3 13/16 in. (9.7 cm)
d: H. 5 3/8 in. (13.6 cm); W. (at handles) 5 3/16 in. (13.2 cm)
e: H. 5 5/16 in. (13.5 cm); W. 5 1/8 in. (13.1cm)
f: H. 6 9/16 in. (16.7 cm); W. (at handles) 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm) - Classification: Metalwork
- Credit Line: Gift of Mary L. Cassilly, 1894
- Object Number: 94.19b–f, k
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Shibata Zeshin (Japanese, 1807–1891)
mid-19th century
Sakai Ōho (Japanese, 1808–1841)
ca. 1839
Wan Yannian (Chinese, active late 18th–early 19th century)
19th century
Court of King Mindon or Thibaw, or associated workshops
1870s–1880s
19th century
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.