Incense Burner
Unknown Artist
Medium
Pottery
Dimensions
H. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm); W. 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Joseph Koshland, 1924
Accession Number
24.55.3a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming incense burner, crafted in pottery during China's Ming dynasty (13681644), exemplifies the's masterful ceramics tradition. Standing just 6⅝ inches tall and 4⅜ inches wide, its compact form suggests it was designed for intimate domestic or ritual use, possibly adorned with animal motifs—a common feature in Ming wares that infused everyday objects with symbolic vitality. Produced in an age when China led the world in ceramic innovation, such pieces highlight the dynasty's technical prowess in shaping durable, elegant vessels from clay. Ming incense burners held deep cultural signi...