Artwork preview

Incense burner in the shape of an archaic tripod (ding)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The object is a vessel with a predominantly pale purple coloration. It has a rounded body with a flat bottom and three legs. The body is square shaped when viewed from the front. The object has two protruding handles on either side. The handles are decorated with what appears to be carved flowers or other organic shapes. On the front of the body, there is a relief carving of an animal-like mask. The top of the vessel is decorated with stacked carvings resembling a lotus flower. The lotus flower at the very top has a rounded depression in its center. The object appears to be made of stone or mineral, possibly jade, based on its color and texture. The background of the image is a gradient of dark gray to light gray. The object sits on a light gray surface, and there is a slight shadow underneath it.

Artwork Details

Date
19th century
Medium
Jade (jadeite)
Culture
China
Dimensions
468 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette