Description:

Small incense burners like this were probably used in private devotion. The pierced wooden lid allowed the smoke of the burning incense to escape. The design is of taotie (monster) heads and dragons. The taotie is said to be a symbol that warns against greediness, so it is sometimes known as ‘the beast of greed’.

Glass, cast and carved in relief
Base height: 7.8 cm, base diameter: 10.2 cm, lid length: 10.8 cm, lid width: 9.1 cm, lid height 5.0 cm, combined height: 9.9 cm

Chinese Description:

香炉 中国，清朝，约1800-1900 这只小巧的香炉大抵作家居熏香之用。其木制炉盖鏤空，以俾香烟缓缓外透。炉身以龙及饕餮作纹饰。传说饕餮为凶猛贪食之兽，以此为装饰有戒贪之意。 玻璃，模铸、浮雕

Creator: Unknown

Date: 1800-1900, Qing dynasty

Copyright: Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives

Object ID:N4697