Chinese Lu or Incense Burner

Tapered white block with a few lines of fine brushed writing running down one face.

This porcelain lu or incense burner is from Hebei Province, China, and dates to the 19th century. Many Chinese censers take their shape from ancient bronze ritual vessels, with a rounded bowl, a flared rim and handles or legs that carry the weight of the form. Four-sided piece narrowing toward a flat top with a small round hole. The glaze is clean, glossy white with a few small blemishes, and a column of delicate blue characters is brushed down the front face. The edges are crisp and the foot is bare. It is 3 inches wide, 3 deep and 4.25 high.

Neat handwriting on a very small, very upright slab.