Japanese Lidded Censer Depicting Demon Oni Holding Top Burner on Floral Base

A horned oni crouches at the bottom holding the whole thing up, while a dragon lounges on the lid.

This lidded censer depicting a demon oni holding the top burner on a floral base is Shinto, from Japan, and dates to the 19th century. It is bronze. The oni is a familiar figure in Japanese art, often shown subdued or put to work. The bowl is cast with dragons in relief under a band of cloud-shaped lappets, with two tall loop handles at the shoulder. The lid is pierced with scrolling clouds and crowned by a coiled dragon. The base flares out in foliate openwork. It is 13 inches high and 5 in diameter.

The oni does the lifting. The dragon takes the credit.