Censers, also known as incense burners, have a long history in China, dating back to ancient times. They were used for a variety of purposes, including religious ceremonies, medicinal treatments, and as a means of purifying the air.

In ancient China, censers were used in religious rituals and ceremonies, particularly in Taoist and Buddhist temples. They were also used in imperial palaces and government buildings, where they were used to purify the air and to ward off evil spirits. Censers were often made of bronze, and were decorated with intricate designs and motifs, such as dragons, phoenixes, and other symbols of power and authority.

During the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), censers were used in traditional Chinese medicine as a way to burn herbal mixtures to treat illnesses. Censers were also used in the home as part of everyday life, where they were used to purify the air and more...

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Small Chinese bronze censer, and a bronze Buddhist lion finial.…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Lion Finial

Small Chinese bronze censer, and a bronze Buddhist lion finial. Height 9.5 cm max

Small Chinese bronze censer late Qing dynasty with loop handles…

Qing Dynasty Bronze Censer with Loop Handles on Stand

Small Chinese bronze censer late Qing dynasty with loop handles on wood stand. Width 10.5 cm

A Chinese bronze censer on stand, with lion dog finial, with a…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Lion Dog Finial and Fu Character

A Chinese bronze censer on stand, with lion dog finial, with a Chinese character Fu, Happiness, height 17, diameter 10 cm

Chinese bronze censer with dog finial cast mark to base,…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Dog Finial, 14cm

Chinese bronze censer with dog finial cast mark to base, measures 14 cm high

Petit Chinese twin handled bronze censer, of squat baluster…

Chinese Twin Handled Bronze Censer with Dragon Heads

Petit Chinese twin handled bronze censer, of squat baluster from with dragon twin handle heads, on circular foot, mark to base, diameter 8 cm

Eastern bronze censer 15.5 cm high

Eastern Bronze Censer - 15.5 cm Height

Eastern bronze censer 15.5 cm high

Antique Chinese gilt bronze small censer Xuande seal mark to…

Chinese Gilt Bronze Small Censer with Xuande Seal Mark

Antique Chinese gilt bronze small censer Xuande seal mark to base, measures 6.5 cm diameter

Chinese bronze censer. Pierced decoration to lid. Animal…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Animal Finials and Character Marks

Chinese bronze censer. Pierced decoration to lid. Animal finials. Character marks to base. Height 14 cm. Length 24 cm

A Chinese bronze and enamel censer, a bowl of compressed ovoid…

Chinese Bronze Enamel Censer with Lotus Design

A Chinese bronze and enamel censer, a bowl of compressed ovoid form with a broad waisted neck, two raised square handles and a running champleve enamel border, conforming enamel lotus leaf designs to the body and raised upon three zoomorphic feet. Height…

Eastern bronze censer, with lion mask handles, 14.5 cm high

Eastern Bronze Censer with Lion Mask Handles

Eastern bronze censer, with lion mask handles, 14.5 cm high

A Chinese bronze censer, of low ovoid form with integral tripod…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Ming Mark, 9.5 cm

A Chinese bronze censer, of low ovoid form with integral tripod feet and looped lug handles; bearing a mock Ming mark underside. Height 9.5 cm.

A small bronze Chinese censer, 19 cm high

Bronze Chinese Censer, 19 cm High

A small bronze Chinese censer, 19 cm high

Chinese bronze incense pot, with monkey feet and reign mark to…

Chinese Bronze Incense Pot with Monkey Feet and Mark

Chinese bronze incense pot, with monkey feet and reign mark to base 8 cm diameter

Vintage Chinese bronze censer engraved with scenes of figures…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Landscape Scenes and Handles

Vintage Chinese bronze censer engraved with scenes of figures in a landscape setting, dual handles, three moulded feet, impressed character mark to base. Height 15 cm

A Chinese bronze censer, 20th century of waisted compressed…

A Chinese bronze censer, 20th century of waisted compressed form, with elephant head and trunk handles, and raised upon a circular foot, decorated with incised shou medallion and geometric forms under the rim, in rich mottled copper tones, with a…

Chinese bronze twin handled censer, of squat baluster form,…

Chinese Bronze Twin Handled Censer with Rams Head Handles

Chinese bronze twin handled censer, of squat baluster form, with rams head handles, mark to base, diameter 11.5 cm

A Chinese circular bronze censer the rounded squat form without…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Single Character Mark

A Chinese circular bronze censer the rounded squat form without decoration, a raised single character mark to base. Diameter 7 cm

A Chinese bronze censer, 10 cm high and a bronze figure of a…

Chinese Bronze Censer and Standing Lady Figure

A Chinese bronze censer, 10 cm high and a bronze figure of a standing lady 18 cm high

A pair of Chinese bronze figural censers and two weights, 20th…

Chinese Bronze Figural Censers and Weights

A pair of Chinese bronze figural censers and two weights, 20th century, 15 cm high

A 19th century Chinese bronze incense burner, compressed…

19th Century Chinese Bronze Dragon Incense Burner

A 19th century Chinese bronze incense burner, compressed spherical form, the body with two large panels of relief dragon and mystic pearl decoration below a frieze of stiff leaf design, the pierced dome cover with a relief band of crashing wave design…

A Chinese bronze tripod censer, 20th century the patinated…

A Chinese bronze tripod censer, 20th century the patinated bronze censer of bombe form with finely cast with lion mask handles, between studded borders to the rim and base, raised on three scrolled feet, with four-character mark in relief in seal script…

Unusual Chinese bronze censer, in the form of a shrine, with…

Chinese Bronze Shrine Censer

Unusual Chinese bronze censer, in the form of a shrine, with pierced finial above facetted sides with decorative panels, with ogee window to the front, on a square base pierced with cloud motifs, height 21.5 cm

A Chinese bronze censer, with double handled on three low legs…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Xuande Mark, 9cm Height

A Chinese bronze censer, with double handled on three low legs impressed 16 character mark to base, including 'Made By Wubangzuo Hao in the 5th Year of the Xuande Emperor', height 9 cm, diameter 12.5 cm

A Chinese bronze censer, squat baluster, decorated in low…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Archaic Relief Decoration

A Chinese bronze censer, squat baluster, decorated in low relief with archaic patterns. Diameter 10 cm.

A Chinese bronze horse censer, 20th century Modelled in…

Chinese Bronze Horse Censer

A Chinese bronze horse censer, 20th century Modelled in foursquare standing horse form, the head and body set with notched flanges, the removable saddle serving as cover, cast in archaic style with surface patina, oxidation and encrustation, height 22.5…

Chinese miniature bronze censer, of squat form with twin mask…

Chinese Bronze Miniature Censer with Mask Handles

Chinese miniature bronze censer, of squat form with twin mask handles, four character mark to base, diameter 10.5 cm

A large bronze Chinese censer, of broad basin shape with high…

Bronze Chinese Censer with Archaistic Motifs

A large bronze Chinese censer, of broad basin shape with high set square bracket handles and raised on three, cabriole legs with whorl feet, decorated with archaistic motifs in low relief, to the body upon a diaper ground, height 28 cm, diameter: 26.5 cm

A Chinese bronze censer the openwork lid supporting a reclining…

Chinese Bronze Deer Censer with Bamboo Handles and Feet

A Chinese bronze censer the openwork lid supporting a reclining deer, the handles and feet of bamboo form, the body decorated with sprays, seal mark to base late 19th/ early 20th century,27 cm high

Chinese bronze incense burner reign mark to base, 20.5 cm wide,…

Chinese Bronze Incense Burner with Reign Mark

Chinese bronze incense burner reign mark to base, 20.5 cm wide, 11.5 cm high

A Chinese bronze censer, the body cast with opposed relief…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Elephant Mask Handles and Birds

A Chinese bronze censer, the body cast with opposed relief panels of birds on branches between a pair of elephant mask handles to the sides, on four supports above a platform base cast as intertwined tree branches. Height 9.5 cm

A Chinese archaic style bronze censer, 19th/20th century, 15.5…

Chinese Bronze Censer in Archaic Style

A Chinese archaic style bronze censer, 19th/20th century, 15.5 cm high

A Chinese bronze pendant travelling incense burner 12.5 cm…

Chinese Bronze Travelling Incense Burner Pendant

A Chinese bronze pendant travelling incense burner 12.5 cm diameter

Antique Chinese heavy brass censer cast and engraved with…

Antique Chinese heavy brass censer cast and engraved with Confronting dragons above a wave border, late Qing Dynasty, Dia.18 cm

Chinese bronze incense pot with monkey feet mark to base…

Chinese Monkey Feet Bronze Incense Pot, 8cm

Chinese bronze incense pot with monkey feet mark to base measure 8 cm dia

Chinese bronze censer with a dog of fo finial, approx 42 cm…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Dog of Fo Finial

Chinese bronze censer with a dog of fo finial, approx 42 cm high, 30 cm wide

A vintage pair of Chinese bronze dogs of Fo incense burners,…

Pair of Chinese Bronze Dogs of Fo Incense Burners

A vintage pair of Chinese bronze dogs of Fo incense burners, people's Republic of China era, second half 20th century, the opposite pair of traditionally styled seated dogs, with curled fur and scrolling beards and tails, with a clawed paw raised and both…

Old Chinese bronze censer supported on four leg supports,…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Four Legs, 30cm High

Old Chinese bronze censer supported on four leg supports, approx 30 cm high

Two Chinese bronze censors (2)

Pair of Chinese Bronze Censers

Two Chinese bronze censors (2)

A Chinese bronze censer the body decorated in archaic style,…

Qing Dynasty Bronze Censer with Archaic Decorations

A Chinese bronze censer the body decorated in archaic style, with upright half loop handles and tripod feet, Qing Dynasty, 13 cm diameter

A Chinese bronze two handled censer 20th century

Chinese Bronze Censer with Handles (20th Century)

A Chinese bronze two handled censer 20th century

Chinese bronze lidded tripod censer late Qing dynasty with…

Qing Dynasty Bronze Tripod Censer with Archaistic Decoration

Chinese bronze lidded tripod censer late Qing dynasty with archaistic decoration and upright handles. Height 20 cm

Chinese bronze censer on timber stand, 21 cm high approx.

Chinese Bronze Censer on Timber Stand

Chinese bronze censer on timber stand, 21 cm high approx.

Chinese bronze censer

Bronze Chinese Censer

Chinese bronze censer

A Chinese bronze censer, compressed circular form with raised…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Character Marks

A Chinese bronze censer, compressed circular form with raised lug handles, on three short tapered feet. Character marks impressed into the base. Diameter 15 cm.

Three Chinese bronze censers (3)

Set of 3 Chinese Bronze Censers

Three Chinese bronze censers (3)

Small Chinese bronze censer. Qing Dynasty. Diameter 7 cm

Small Chinese bronze censer. Qing Dynasty. Diameter 7 cm

A Chinese pair of bronze Chimera censors. Four character marks…

Chinese Bronze Chimera Censors with Markings - 11cm Height

A Chinese pair of bronze Chimera censors. Four character marks to base. Height 11 cm

A Chinese bronze ding formed censer & figure of Guanyin. 20th…

Chinese Bronze Guanyin Censer

A Chinese bronze ding formed censer & figure of Guanyin. 20th century. The figure 23 cm high (2)

A Nepalese bronze censer in the form of a seated cow, on a…

Bronze Cow Censer with Wooden Stand

A Nepalese bronze censer in the form of a seated cow, on a wooden stand. 22 cm high

A Chinese bronze censer, circa 1930, in the form of bamboo, 20…

Chinese Bamboo Bronze Censer, circa 1930

A Chinese bronze censer, circa 1930, in the form of bamboo, 20 cm high, 20 cm wide

Chinese bronze censer, in the form of a temple with dragon…

Dragon-handled Bronze Temple Censer

Chinese bronze censer, in the form of a temple with dragon handles on three feet

Chinese bronze & enamel twin handle lidded censer. 36 cm high

Bronze Enamel Twin Handle Censer with Lid

Chinese bronze & enamel twin handle lidded censer. 36 cm high

Chinese bronze Buddha. Medicine Buddha; and three miniature…

Chinese Bronze Buddha and Miniature Censers

Chinese bronze Buddha. Medicine Buddha; and three miniature censers. Height 8 cm (Buddha)

A Chinese figural bronze censer and cover, late 19th/early 20th…

Chinese Bronze Demon Censer with Dragon Finial

A Chinese figural bronze censer and cover, late 19th/early 20th century, the patinated bronze censer modelled as a kneeling demon holding a globular twin-handled censer decorated with lappet bands, the domed pierced cover with a dragon finial, raised on a…

A Chinese bronze censer of urn form raised upon a base modelled…

Dragon Bronze Censer with Calligraphic Mark

A Chinese bronze censer of urn form raised upon a base modelled as a sinuous dragon; a dragon in high relief encircles the body of the censer, the spreading rim decorated with square fret scrolls, a calligraphic cast mark under the base. Height 23 cm

Chinese brass censor with Fo Dog handles, six character marks…

Chinese Brass Censor with Warrior Battle Scene and Fo Dog Handles

Chinese brass censor with Fo Dog handles, six character marks to base, depicting a warrior battle scene (wax seal inside)

A Chinese bronze incense burner with two handles (Da Ming Xuan…

Chinese Bronze Incense Burner with Handles and Mark

A Chinese bronze incense burner with two handles (Da Ming Xuan de Nian Zhi mark), height 8 cm, diameter 15 cm

An antique Chinese bronze censer with elephant handles, Qing…

Qing Dynasty Bronze Censer with Elephant Handles

An antique Chinese bronze censer with elephant handles, Qing Dynasty, 19th century, 7 cm high, 11 cm wide

Chinese gilt bronze Buddha, depicted seated with top knot, with…

Gilt Bronze Seated Buddha with Censor

Chinese gilt bronze Buddha, depicted seated with top knot, with eyes downcast in serene expression, sach falling from shoulder, hands resting in lap holding censor, legs crossed raised on double lotus base, height 22 cm

Chinese bronze Tri-Footed censer, of squat baluster form with…

Chinese Bronze Tri-Footed Censer with Cartouches and Mark

Chinese bronze Tri-Footed censer, of squat baluster form with twin handles, decorated with three cartouches containing script, mark to base, height 9 cm, depth 16 cm

A Chinese bronze censer, 20th century, with lion head handles &…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Ming Mark and Lion Handles

A Chinese bronze censer, 20th century, with lion head handles & a six character impressed Ming mark to base. Height 6.5 cm, diameter 13 cm

Chinese twin handled bronze censer, of squat globular form with…

Chinese twin handled bronze censer, of squat globular form with waisted neck and slightly flared rim, decorated with stylised twin handles, standing on three feet, four character mark to base, diameter 16 cm

Antique Chinese bronze elephant censer, 13 cm tall

Chinese Bronze Elephant Censer

Antique Chinese bronze elephant censer, 13 cm tall

Bronze Chinese censer with pierced top and the mid section…

Chinese Bronze Fish Censer with Temple Decoration

Bronze Chinese censer with pierced top and the mid section decorated with fish and temple. Marked to base, diameter 6 cm, height 6 cm

A Chinese bronze censer, squat circular shape raised on three…

Chinese Elephant Head Bronze Censer with Putai Figure

A Chinese bronze censer, squat circular shape raised on three elephant head feet, the walls decorated with ribbon swags, elephant head's form handles issuing from the side, domed lid surmounted by a figure of Putai. Height 29.5 cm

A Chinese cast bronze censer with foo dog finial and handles,…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Foo Dog Finial and Handles

A Chinese cast bronze censer with foo dog finial and handles, 19th/20th century, 9.5 cm high, 11 cm wide

Chinese twin handled bronze censer, of squat form, decorated…

Chinese Bronze Elephant Handle Censer

Chinese twin handled bronze censer, of squat form, decorated with twin elephant mask handles, raised on a circular foot, four character mark to base, height 8 cm and diameter 15 cm

A Chinese bronze tripod based Ding censer, the body of…

Chinese Bronze Tripod Censer with Gold Splashes, Marked

A Chinese bronze tripod based Ding censer, the body of compressed cauldron form with integral high set loop handles, splashed gold colours to the body; a circular bordered character mark underside, height 7.5 cm, diameter 10.5 cm

A Chinese bronze covered censer, Republic Era, mid 20th century,…

Chinese Bronze Covered Censer with Fantastic Creatures

A Chinese bronze covered censer, Republic Era, mid 20th century, the compressed cauldron style pot raised on three shaped legs with a wide collar and pierced dome lid with a lion dog finial, with bearded dragon handles and applied fantastic creatures to…

A Chinese lidded bronze incense burner with champleve enamel…

Chinese Bronze Incense Burner with Champleve Enamel Decoration

A Chinese lidded bronze incense burner with champleve enamel decoration, dragon handles and foo dog finial. Height 18 cm

A Chinese bronze, two handled, tripod censer, bearing a four…

Chinese Bronze Tripod Censer with Mark (931g, 8.8cm)

A Chinese bronze, two handled, tripod censer, bearing a four character mark to base. Weight 931grams. Height 8.8 cm. Diameter 11.3 cm

A Chinese bronze lotus censer, possibly Qing Dynasty, a…

Chinese Qing Dynasty Bronze Lotus Censer

A Chinese bronze lotus censer, possibly Qing Dynasty, a stylised lotus form bowl with basket handles raised upon three petite feet; with impressed Qing marks underside. Height 9 cm. Diameter 14 cm. (irregular)

A group of two bronze Chinese vases and a censer, the vases of…

Bronze Chinese Vases and Censer with Taotie Masks

A group of two bronze Chinese vases and a censer, the vases of baluster form with a frieze of taotie style masks on a diaper ground; the censer of bulbous form raised on three legs and with basket style handles, similarly decorated. Height 32 cm. and 30 cm

A Chinese bronze censer, of compressed globular form with a…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Loop Handles and Mark

A Chinese bronze censer, of compressed globular form with a pair of raised loop handles to the rim, on three tapering feet, impressed two character mark underside, dark brown patina, height 10 cm, diameter 12.5 cm

Chinese bronze censer, with kylin finial, above pierced domed…

Kylin Bronze Censer with Pierced Cover and Feet

Chinese bronze censer, with kylin finial, above pierced domed cover and body, raised on three feet, height 19 cm

A Chinese bronze twin handle censer. Diameter 19 cm

Chinese Twin Handle Bronze Censer (19cm)

A Chinese bronze twin handle censer. Diameter 19 cm

A Chinese bronze censer, possibly late Qing, early 20th century…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Yin Yang Symbols

A Chinese bronze censer, possibly late Qing, early 20th century of compressed globular shape with a waisted neck and foot rim, the sides with applied twin handles with thumb rests, the body incised with six yin yang symbols surrounded by trigrams of…

A Chinese bombe form bronze censer, bearing Qianlong period…

Qianlong Bronze Censer with Lion Mask Handles

A Chinese bombe form bronze censer, bearing Qianlong period mark finely cast with lion mask handles and a four character mark in relief in seal script inset to the underside. Height 6 cm, width 14.5 cm, diameter 12.5 cm

A set of three Chinese bronze graduated size heavy censers,…

Chinese Bronze Graduated Censers Set

A set of three Chinese bronze graduated size heavy censers, plain design, side handles, two with embossed marks to base. Largest diameter 18 cm

Late 19th century Chinese bronze censer, the domed lid with foo…

Late 19th Century Chinese Bronze Censer with Foo Dog

Late 19th century Chinese bronze censer, the domed lid with foo dog holding a reticulated ball, twin fish handles, the body with birds, blossom and branches (one tail broken), scroll legs and circular base, 48 cm high

A Chinese bronze twin-handled tripod censer, Four-character…

Chinese Bronze Tripod Censer with Studio Mark

A Chinese bronze twin-handled tripod censer, Four-character embossed studio mark to the base incised with figures amongst garden landscape, 25.5 cm wide

Bronze Chinese lidded censer on stand with two ring handles and…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Dragon Feet and Bird Decoration

Bronze Chinese lidded censer on stand with two ring handles and a mid section decorated with birds and flowers, resting on on three feet protruding from dragons mouths. The lid pierced and featuring a dragon llike finial, and comes with a well carved…

Antique Chinese bronze tripod censer with an Apocryphal Ming…

Antique Chinese bronze tripod censer with an Apocryphal Ming Xuande Dedication seal mark, Qing Dynasty, Dia.13.5 cm

A Chinese six dragon bronze covered censer, 20th century, the…

Six Dragon Bronze Covered Censer

A Chinese six dragon bronze covered censer, 20th century, the censer raised upon tripod dragon feet, the body with ruyi clouds and dragon handles, the pierced top surmounted by an entwined dragon finial, bearing mark underside. Height 16.5 cm

A late 19th century/early 20th century Chinese bronze censer,…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Handles and Feet

A late 19th century/early 20th century Chinese bronze censer, squat circular shape, the rim with handles issuing as loops, raised on three tapering feet, intaglio hallmark cast under the base, dark brown patina. Diameter 11 cm

A Chinese bronze censer, squat spherical shape raised upon…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Foo Dog Handles and Cover

A Chinese bronze censer, squat spherical shape raised upon three foo dogs standing upon their hind feet, sinuous dragons form handles attached to the sides, the domed cover surmounted by an aggressive foo dog. Height 34.5 cm

Vintage Chinese brass censer embossed dragon decoration,…

Embossed Dragon Brass Censer with Pierced Lid

Vintage Chinese brass censer embossed dragon decoration, pierced lid, with extensive decoration to bowl, on 3 paw feet, height 16 cm.

Early Chinese bronze censer tri-footed, dual handles, character…

Chinese Bronze Censer with Character Marks

Early Chinese bronze censer tri-footed, dual handles, character marks to base, diameter 15 cm, height 11 cm

An archaic Chinese bronze censer, height 15 cm

Ancient Chinese Bronze Censer

An archaic Chinese bronze censer, height 15 cm

A Chinese bronze censer bowl, probably late Qing Dynasty, 19th…

Chinese Ming-style Bronze Censer Bowl

A Chinese bronze censer bowl, probably late Qing Dynasty, 19th century, in the Ming manner and of compressed cauldron form raised on three small feet, with decorative scrolled lug handles and a low relief repeat pattern to the collar below a waisted neck;…

A Chinese polished bronze chilong censer, circa 1900, six…

Chinese Bronze Chilong Censer, 1900, Marked, Wood Stand

A Chinese polished bronze chilong censer, circa 1900, six character mark to base, 22 cm wide, wood stand

A Chinese bronze censer, rectangular form, the pierced and…

Dragon-embellished Chinese bronze censer with cloud scroll lid

A Chinese bronze censer, rectangular form, the pierced and cloud scroll domed lid with shishi finial, the body with raised angular handles and bulbous form with relief decoration of dragons, mystic pearls and clouds, raised on four tapering cylindrical…

A large bronze Chinese censer with canine finial and relief…

A large bronze Chinese censer with canine finial and relief birds to body, height 44 cm

A small heavy Chinese brass two-handled censer, of circular…

Chinese Brass Censer with Seal Mark, 13cm Diameter

A small heavy Chinese brass two-handled censer, of circular shape on three feet. Seal mark, diameter 13 cm.

Antique Chinese bronze censor, 19th century elephant bronze…

Antique Chinese bronze censor, 19th century elephant bronze figural censor with high relief decorative end pagoda house to it's back, height 30.5 cm

Good Chinese hand made bronze censer temple dog figure finial,…

Handmade Bronze Censer with Temple Dog Figure Finial

Good Chinese hand made bronze censer temple dog figure finial, decorative pierced cover, base with 3 legs, height 18 cm