Incense Burners Across Cultures
May 2026
These objects are all incense burners or censers used for burning fragrant materials in religious, ceremonial, or domestic contexts across Chinese, Coptic, and European cultures spanning multiple dynasties and periods.
56 objects · 3 institutions
Chinese Jade Incense Set
Cleveland Museum of Art
1644–1911
Covered Tripod Incense Burner (Censer) with Foliate Scrolls and Leafy Tendrils
Art Institute of Chicago
Northern Song dynasty (960–1127)
Cylindrical Tripod Censer (Incense Burner) with Cloud-Scroll Feet
Art Institute of Chicago
Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279)
Cylindrical Tripod Censer (Incense Burner) with Cloud-Scroll Feet
Art Institute of Chicago
Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279), 12th/13th century
Feline Incense Burner
Cleveland Museum of Art
1150–1200
Feline Incense Burner
Cleveland Museum of Art
1150–1200
Feline-Handled Incense Burner
Cleveland Museum of Art
c. 100 CE
Fragrance Container
Cleveland Museum of Art
1736–95
Fragrance Container
Cleveland Museum of Art
1736–95
Fragrance Container
Cleveland Museum of Art
1736–95
Head for a Feline Incense Burner
Cleveland Museum of Art
1150–1200
Incense Burner
Art Institute of Chicago
14th century
Incense Burner
Cleveland Museum of Art
1736–95
Incense Burner
Art Institute of Chicago
Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), 11th century
Incense Burner
Cleveland Museum of Art
960–1279
Incense Burner
Cleveland Museum of Art
1200s
Incense Burner
Cleveland Museum of Art
1736–95
Incense Burner
Cleveland Museum of Art
100s BCE
Incense Burner
Cleveland Museum of Art
1200–1250
Incense Burner
Cleveland Museum of Art
1736–95
Incense Burner
Cleveland Museum of Art
early 1400s
Incense Burner (Boshan Lu)
Cleveland Museum of Art
200–100 BCE
Incense Burner (Boshan Lu)
Cleveland Museum of Art
200–100 BCE
Incense Burner (Boshan Lu)
Cleveland Museum of Art
200–100 BCE
Incense Burner (Xianglu)
Art Institute of Chicago
Western Han dynasty, 206 BCE–9 CE
Incense Burner (Xunlu or Xianglu)
Art Institute of Chicago
Eastern Han dynasty (A.D. 25–220), 1st/2nd century A.D.
Incense Burner (lid)
Cleveland Museum of Art
1736–95
Incense Burner Top in the Shape of a Lion
Cleveland Museum of Art
1100s
Incense Burner and Stand for an Altar Cross
Cleveland Museum of Art
1150–75
Incense Burner in Form of Archaic Lian with Peonies in Relief
Cleveland Museum of Art
1300s
Incense Burner in the Form of Archaic Li
Cleveland Museum of Art
1200s
Incense Burner in the Form of a Duck
Art Institute of Chicago
Song dynasty (960–1279), 12th century
Incense Burner in the form of an archaic bronze vessel
Cleveland Museum of Art
1600s
Incense Burner with Animal Handles
Art Institute of Chicago
Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), 11th –12th century
Incense Burner with Chrysanthemum and Knobbed Scrolls
Art Institute of Chicago
Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), 11th century
Incense Burner with Peony Scroll
Art Institute of Chicago
Northern Song dynasty, (960–1127), late 11th/early 12th century
Incense Burner: Longquan Ware
Cleveland Museum of Art
S. Sung-Yuan Dynasty, 13th-14th Century
Incense Burner: Southern Celadon Ware
Cleveland Museum of Art
1271–1368
Incense Burner: Jizhou ware
Cleveland Museum of Art
1200s–1300s
Incense burner in the shape of a goose
Metropolitan Museum of Art
early 15th century
Large Censer
Art Institute of Chicago
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), dated 1673
Lid with Lion-Dog, probably for Incense Burner
Art Institute of Chicago
Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), c. 12th century
Mountain-Shaped Incense Burner
Art Institute of Chicago
Western Han dynasty, 206 BCE–9 CE
Mountain-Shaped Incense Burner
Art Institute of Chicago
Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), 100 BCE–100 CE
Openwork Braizer or Incense Stick Holder
Art Institute of Chicago
Ming dynasty (1368–1644), late 14th/15th century
Tail for a Feline Incense Burner
Cleveland Museum of Art
1150–1200
Teardrop-Shaped Incense Burner (Cintanmani)
Art Institute of Chicago
Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279)
Tripod Incense Burner
Art Institute of Chicago
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 17th century
Tripod Incense Burner
Cleveland Museum of Art
1644–1911
Tripod Incense Burner
Cleveland Museum of Art
1644–1911
Tripod Incense Burner (Censer)
Art Institute of Chicago
Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279)
Tripod Incense Burner (Censer)
Art Institute of Chicago
Northern Song (960–1127) or Jin dynasty (1115–1234), c. 12th/13th century
Tripod Incense Burner (Censer) with Monster-Head Feet and Loop Handles
Art Institute of Chicago
Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279)
Tripod Incense Burner (Censer) with Peony-Leaf Scrolls, Netlike Petals, and Masklike Legs
Art Institute of Chicago
Northern Song (960–1127) or Jin dynasty (1115–1234), c. 12th century
Tripod Incense Burner, Ding Shape
Cleveland Museum of Art
1644–1911
Tripod Incense Holder with Floral Design
Art Institute of Chicago
Ming dynasty (1368–1644)