A Long-Handled Gilt-Bronze Censer (Ekoro)

NANBOKUCHO PERIOD (14TH CENTURY)

Details

A Long-Handled Gilt-Bronze Censer (Ekoro)
Nanbokucho period (14th century)
Cast in bronze, the brazier set on a chrysanthemum base and fitted with a cover pierced with clouds and a lotus finial, an s-shaped bracket support joining the brazier to the handle, the head of the handle with a pierced rui-head ornament decorated with two round bosses, the handle stem carved with flowering lotus vines, the end of the handle fitted with a pitcher-shaped balance
15 3/8in. (39cm.) long, 4 3/8in. (11cm.) high

Lot Essay

The custom of offering incense to Buddhist deities using long-handled censers appears in Gandharan stone sculpture as early as the 2nd century. Long-handled censers were introduced to Japan from Tang China, where censers with unadorned ends, resembling the tails of birds, or those with lion-shaped counter balances were most popular. Soon after, Japanese bronze casters began producing long-handled censers modelled after the Tang-dynasty prototype. By the Heian period, the counter balances were gradually changed to a simple water pitcher shape which remained the popular style until the Edo period.

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