Incense burner - Copper - Auspicious Beast Incense

A Japanese cast-copper incense burner, accompanied by its original wooden box and a yellow cloth.

The lid is crowned with a phoenix finial, featuring an openwork design of scrolling vines that allows incense smoke to drift out gracefully. On either side, a phoenix serves as a handle, captured in a lively, dynamic pose. The body of the burner is rounded and full; within decorative panels are relief carvings of peony blossoms and foliage, depicted with lush, expansive detail. The surrounding surface is adorned with finely incised, intertwining vine patterns. The vessel rests upon three legs—each shaped as a powerful, majestic lion treading upon the ground—which provide a robust foundation and an air of imposing authority.