Burner Item Number: Edz947 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Incense burner of brass, shaped like a flattened sphere and open at the top. Has three solid round legs, 0.6 cm. long, which flow smoothly into body of burner. Mouth has raised neck 0.9 cm. high with recessed ring around outer circumference. Rim is 0.6 cm. wide with upturned outer edge. Smooth, shiny surface. Under base, on square ground, there are the Chinese characters 'Gret Ming Hsuan-te'.
History Of Use
Incense in the form of sticks, or pieces of sandalwood, is used as an offering to gods and ancestral spirits in Chinese culture. The ceremonial burning of incense may have been introduced to China with the increasing influence of Buddhism in the 3rd century C.E., if not earlier. This is a very small incense burner, used perhaps in home worship. It may have been made in the style of a Ming Dynasty, Hsuan Te (1426-35) piece, rather than being actually made at the time.
Item History
- Made in China before 1953
- Collected between 1898 and 1953
- Owned by Marion Stephan
- Owned by Charles H. Stephan before January 10, 1977
- Received from Charles H. Stephan (Donor) on January 10, 1977
What
- Name
- Burner
- Identification Number
- Edz947
- Type of Item
- burner
- Material
- brass metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- cast, turned and polished
- Overall
- height 3.4 cm, diameter 5.8 cm
Who
- Culture
- Chinese
- Previous Owner
- Marion Stephan and Charles H. Stephan
- Received from
- Charles H. Stephan (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- China
When
- Creation Date
- before 1953
- Collection Date
- between 1898 and 1953
- Ownership Date
- before January 10, 1977
- Acquisition Date
- on January 10, 1977
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 84
- Accession Number
- 0352/0120