Artwork preview

Incense burner (xiangxun)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Incense burner (xiangxun) by Unknown. The object is a dark-colored, ornate vessel with a rounded body and a long necked animal on top. The body has horizontal lines around it. The vessel has three legs and four rings around its body, two on either side. Small animal figures protrude from the top and sides. The vessel has a wide mouth but no visible lid. The necked animal on top resembles a bird or fowl. The overall shape is bulbous with a narrow top.

Artwork details

Date:
5th century BCE
Medium:
Bronze
Culture:
China
Dimensions:
505 × 624 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette