Chinese Wood Incense Holder

One broad dish, a vase-shaped neck and a tall slim spike on top.

This lacquered elm wood incense holder from Shanxi Province is from Shanxi Province, China, and dates to the 20th century. An incense holder is made to hold sticks or cones upright while they burn, and the base is usually wide so that ash falls safely. Turned post with a flared bell base, a baluster-shaped neck and a single wide dished disc, from which a thin tall spindle rises. The finish is dark brown, a little darker at the foot, with a gentle gloss. It is 8.5 inches high and 3.25 in diameter.

Plain, upright and quietly well proportioned.