Incense Burner

VIETNAM; Later Le dynasty

This incense burner is in four parts: a base, a supporting column, a vase, and a burner. The base consists of a series of rings with a light brown border at the top and bottom, and a blue underglaze design in between. The cylindrical supporting column has a slight upward curve and also has a blue underglaze design. The vase is decorated with a vibrant bas relief brown dragon with a meandering body. The shoulder is decorated with inverted lotus petals, followed by two plain rings. The vase curves gently upward to form an inverted bowl, which acts as a support for the burner, and is decorated with swastika designs. The burner has three legs on which there are depictions of the faces and feet of mythical creatures. The curved body and neck are decorated with dragons and flowers respectively. The top of the neck has a raised pattern and the rim is plain. The decorative designs on the incense burner appear to have been influenced by Chinese Ming dynasty (1368–1644) ceramics.