Hill Censer (Boshanlu) 博山爐

bronze 青銅, 21.5cm tall, Han dynasty 漢 (206 BC–220 AD), China 中國

On loan from the James E. Conley Collection

cat# 170172

Made for burning incense, the pierced cover of this censer is shaped as a mountain peak thought to be the home of Daoist immortals. The peak is inhabited by various beasts, as well as human-like figures with animal heads. The foot of the censer has a series of writing dragons.