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Hello, can somebody help me to find out what is this japanese antique incense burner? Approx 520g diameter around 10cm and height 9cm.

Dear Adam,

I'm just a Brazilian trying to learn Japanese, but this tripod incense burner isn't Japanese. You can see the Chinese iconography in the confrontation between the phoenix and the dragon.

In fact, Chinese people see it as a kind of interaction: the phoenix (Fenghuang) and the dragon (Long) represent the ultimate cosmic balance of Yin and Yang. They are symbols of harmony and imperial power, and many times they are seen as representing marital bliss rather than a violent battle between enemies.

I'm not an expert at all, but I think this is a beautiful piece from the Republican Period, not an ancient one. But again, who am I? Just a curious person.

So, if you ask me, I'd place your piece somewhere between this cheap one:

https://www.proantic.com/en/1158999-round-incense-burner-in-patinated-bronze-xix-eme-china-pot-cachepot-old-chinoiserie.htm.html

and this one that is way too expensive:

https://tw.bid.yahoo.com/item/101728616260

But yours is definitely better than both, even if the original lid was eventually swapped out at some point.

I hope you find a real expert to give you a definitive answer.

Best regards,
Renato

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