Accession Number
1973/2.30

Title
Lid to Bo Shan Lu Censor

Artist(s)
Chinese

Artist Nationality
Chinese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
206 BCE-25 CE

Medium & Support
ash glaze on stoneware

Dimensions
3 1/4 in x 4 3/4 in x 4 3/4 in (8.25 cm x 12.07 cm x 12.07 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Caroline I. Plumer for the James Marshall Plumer Collection

Subject matter
Cover or lid to a boshan lu (博山炉) (Daoist "mountain of immortality) shaped incense burner. It is similar to examples casted in bronze from the Zhou through Tang dynasties.  Burning incense was a common practice during the Han dynasty to expel evil spirits.  Ceramic incense burners are primarily found in tombs in Henan province and date to the late Western Han dynasty. 

Physical Description
A cover or lid in the form of a pointed cone, resembling a mountain with a pointed top on a circular base. The sides are carved and incised in striated triangular points, and there are eight triangular shaped peircings around the top.  It is covered in an olive green glaze, and there is loss to side. 

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
incense burner

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
ash glaze
ceramic (material)
covers
grave goods
incense burners
mountains
stoneware (pottery)