Chinese Ceramic Censer

Three animal-mask feet, two upright ears and a glaze the pale blue of shallow water.

This censer comes from Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, China, and dates to the 19th century, in porcelain. Jingdezhen has been the center of Chinese porcelain production for centuries, and tripod censers like this follow the shape of ancient bronze ding vessels. The round body is softly lobed, with a wide, scalloped rim and two squared handles standing upright on it. It rests on three short legs, each emerging from a small molded animal mask. A pale bluish-white glaze covers everything, with faint warm tones along the edges. It is 4.75 inches high and 4.5 in diameter.

Built to hold incense, and quite content holding nothing at all.