Minneapolis Institute of Art

Incense burner with magical dog

Unknown

Date

13th–14th century

Medium

Earthenware

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This three-footed light-green glazed vessel was used to burn incense; the aromatic smoke would have billowed from the dog’s open mouth. The dragon-like canine could represent Panhu, a totemic figure in the creation myths of many of the pre-Buddhist/Hindu cultures of Vietnam, as well as among Yao ethnic groups of southern China. Asia

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