Incense-burner in bronze form

Incense burners with two fish-shaped handles were common among the old ge wares, and have been traditionally attributed to the Song dynasty (National Palace Mus. 1962 ko ware vol. 1: pls. 9-11). This piece lacks the common ge features of spur marks on both the interior and exterior bottom, suggesting it was made in an attempt to revive the ge glaze. The smooth, buff glaze coats the entire body, and the base bears crackles in black and a little yellow. The glaze around the lip was wiped off and painted in brown to create the "purple rim."