Incense burner

The basic shape is derived from the tripod vessels of the late Bronze Age, though it was adapted for use as an incense burner rather than as a ritual food vessel. When in use it would have been partially filled with sand, which would have supported the sticks of incense. Among the other characteristics of this group of vessels are the splashes of gold, created with mercury gilding, that decorate an otherwise uniform brown surface.

Nearly every example of this kind, including this one, has cast into its bottom the mark of the Xuande emperor of the Ming dynasty, whose reign (1426–1435) marked an almost legendary period for the casting of bronze vessels of this type. In part as an homage, this mark was cast into many later vessels of this type (another example is on display in this case).