Incense Burner

This is an example of one of the earliest polychrome effects created with a glaze. Closely associated with the Tang dynasty (618-907), the “three-color” (sāncǎi 三彩) glaze is characterized by bold colors and an unpredictable flow. Using lead oxide (PbO) as a flux in the glaze created a lower melting point, and the colors came from the addition of copper oxide (CuO, Cupric Oxide) for green and iron oxide (FeO, Ferrous Oxide) for browns and yellows, set off by the white of the clay body. Random glaze movement arose from drifting wood ash in the kiln, which fell unpredictably and reacted with the glaze. On this incense burner, a technique of covering areas with wax before glazing called wax resist was used to create the patterns of circles around the vessel’s shoulders. The simple, functional shape of this incense burner is energized by sculptural animal paws for legs and the lively colors and pattern of the glaze.