On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Tiered incense burner

Xue Zichen Chinese

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 216

In addition to tiered trays for storing incense materials, this censer includes an openwork tray for burning incense powder as well as a set of utility spatulas. Each side is incised with line drawings of bronze vessels and calligraphic inscriptions from various antiques. Vessels like this one were made of a copper-nickel alloy (paktong or baitong). With rich surface ornament and epigraphic content, incised paktong wares represent the final flowering of invention in the long history of Chinese bronze production and remained popular among literati into the early twentieth century.

Mark
膠縣志成薛志臣作造
Made by Xue Zhichen of Jiaoxian County.

Tiered incense burner, Xue Zichen (Chinese, act. late 19th–early 20th century), Copper-nickel alloy, China

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.

Tiered incense burner, Xue Zichen (Chinese, act. late 19th–early 20th century), Copper-nickel alloy, China
Tiered incense burner, Xue Zichen (Chinese, act. late 19th–early 20th century), Copper-nickel alloy, China
Tiered incense burner, Xue Zichen (Chinese, act. late 19th–early 20th century), Copper-nickel alloy, China
Tiered incense burner, Xue Zichen (Chinese, act. late 19th–early 20th century), Copper-nickel alloy, China
Tiered incense burner, Xue Zichen (Chinese, act. late 19th–early 20th century), Copper-nickel alloy, China
Tiered incense burner, Xue Zichen (Chinese, act. late 19th–early 20th century), Copper-nickel alloy, China
Tiered incense burner, Xue Zichen (Chinese, act. late 19th–early 20th century), Copper-nickel alloy, China

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