Tripod Incense Burner (Censer)
Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279)
Medium
Longquan ware; glazed stoneware with molded decoration
Dimensions
3.7 × 4.4 cm (1 1/2 × 1 3/4 in.); Diam.: 4.4 cm (1 3/4 in.)
Classification
ceramics
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
193017
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Arts of Asia collection at the Art Institute of, this delicate Tripod Incense Burner (Censer) hails from China's Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279), a age of refined artistry amid political upheaval. Crafted in Longquan ware—a renowned stoneware from Zhejiang province kilns—this petite vessel (just 3.7 × 4.4 cm) the era's pursuit of understated elegance. Its tripod form, echoing ancient bronze ritual vessels, allowed incense smoke to waft gracefully through perforated lids or openings, evoking serenity in temples, scholarly studios, or ancestral altars. The censer's glazed surfa...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...