Art Institute of Chicago

Mountain-Shaped Incense Burner

China, probably Guangdong or Guangxi province

Date

Western Han dynasty, 206 BCE–9 CE

Medium

Brick-red earthenware with green lead glaze

Culture

China

Department

Arts of Asia

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Often referred to as “boshan lu,” or hill censer, this incense burner features a conical cover shaped like miniaturized peaks, evoking the mountainous isles where the immortals reside. When incense is burnt in the step cup, fragrant smoke emanates from the openwork on the cover, animating the sacred mountains and transporting the beholder into a realm of transcendence. Covered with a green lead glaze, this pottery incense burner mimics similar objects that are commonly made in bronze. The clay material suggests that the object might have been specifically made for a funerary context.

The authoritative record is held by Art Institute of Chicago. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.