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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A Chinese carved stone censer and cover, mottled and veined…

Chinese Stone Censer with Archaistic Relief Carvings

A Chinese carved stone censer and cover, mottled and veined yellow-brown stone, of compressed globular form on three animal mask and paw feet, with a pair of elephant mask and loose ring handles to the sides, the cover with a shishi finial, the body with…

Japanese Satsuma censer, in form of a saki container; quail…

Satsuma Sake Censer with Quail Finial

Japanese Satsuma censer, in form of a saki container; quail finial to lid. Height 8 cm

Early Chinese Canton enamel censer. Blue and white floral…

Chinese Canton Enamel Censer with Carved Wood Lid

Early Chinese Canton enamel censer. Blue and white floral decoration; carved wood lid; inner ceramic cup (later addition?), on fitted wooden stand. Height 11 cm (censer only)

16th/17th century Chinese Dehua Blanc de Chine censer.…

Chinese Blanc de Chine Censer, 16th/17th Century

16th/17th century Chinese Dehua Blanc de Chine censer. Provenance: from a private collection. Diameter 11.2 cm

Large Chinese Peking opaque yellow glass ding censer, the sides…

Yellow Glass Ding Censer with Taotie Carvings

Large Chinese Peking opaque yellow glass ding censer, the sides carved with taotie masks. Width 26 cm

Song or later tripod censer height 9 cm

Mini Tripod Censer with Song Inspiration

Song or later tripod censer height 9 cm

30 World War I photographs. Including 9 passed by censer, some…

WWI Photos and Correspondence with Cigarette Packets

30 World War I photographs. Including 9 passed by censer, some with correspondence; and two officers cigarette packets

A Chinese blue and white censer with six reign Xuande character…

Chinese Xuande Reign Blue and White Censer

A Chinese blue and white censer with six reign Xuande character on the body, 20th century

A blue and white censer decorated with dragon and flaming pearl…

Dragon and Flaming Pearl Censer

A blue and white censer decorated with dragon and flaming pearl motifs, moulded lugs restored drill holes to base 21 cm diameter

Chinese green glazed ceramic censer

Green Glazed Chinese Ceramic Censer

Chinese green glazed ceramic censer

An 18th century Chinese export porcelain plate with underglaze…

18th C. Chinese Export Porcelain Plate with Blue Vases & Flowers

An 18th century Chinese export porcelain plate with underglaze blue painted vases, flowers, lanterns & censer. Minor fritting and chip. Width 22.5 cm

A 'Longquan' celadon censer, Ming Dynasty the deep slightly…

Ming Celadon Censer with Lozenge Carving and Cabriole Legs

A 'Longquan' celadon censer, Ming Dynasty the deep slightly flared sides carved on the exterior with lozenge diaper and set with three cabriole legs above the circular base pierced with a central aperture, all beneath the olive-green glaze falling short…

A Chinese Mogul-style censer and cover, Qing Dynasty 1644-1911,…

Qing Dynasty Mogul-style Lotus Censer

A Chinese Mogul-style censer and cover, Qing Dynasty 1644-1911, the body well carved with a lotus scroll, the loose ring handles pierced and carved with chrysanthemums. 11.5 cm high, 16.5 cm wide

Chinese glazed pottery tri footed censer, 32 cm high

Chinese Glazed Pottery Tri-Footed Censer, 32cm High

Chinese glazed pottery tri footed censer, 32 cm high

Antique Chinese blue & white censer & wood stand

Chinese Blue & White Censer with Wood Stand

Antique Chinese blue & white censer & wood stand

A Chinese censer, tea dust glaze (lid missing), qianlong…

Qianlong Tea Dust Glaze Chinese Censer (Missing Lid)

A Chinese censer, tea dust glaze (lid missing), qianlong impressed mark to base. Diameter 14 cm

Shallow Chinese porcelain censer, naively decorated in…

Blue Bird Censer with Fu Character

Shallow Chinese porcelain censer, naively decorated in underglaze blue with birds and a central Fu (good luck) character. Height 13 cm

Brown celadon tripod censer, with incised pattern. Crack to…

Cracked Celadon Tripod Censer with Firing Flaws

Brown celadon tripod censer, with incised pattern. Crack to length of side. Firing flaws. Diameter 12 cm

Celadon tripod censer, with leaf and bud pattern and geometric…

Celadon Leaf Tripod Censer with Geometric Rim

Celadon tripod censer, with leaf and bud pattern and geometric border around rim. Extensive crazing. Height 10 cm

Rare and unusual Chinese censer. Green glaze with pierced lid…

18th Century Chinese Dragon Censer with Green Glaze

Rare and unusual Chinese censer. Green glaze with pierced lid decorated with dragons. 18th century. Height 9.5 cm. Diameter 18.5 cm

A large Chinese composite censer Generously decorated, wooden…

Chinese Composite Censer with Wooden Stand

A large Chinese composite censer Generously decorated, wooden stand, 36 cm high

Satsuma tri footed censer with dog of fo finial & heavily…

Satsuma Chrysanthemum Censer with Dog Finial, Signed

Satsuma tri footed censer with dog of fo finial & heavily decorated with chrysanthemums, signed to base. Height 22 cm

A group of four Chinese Yixing Teapots, contemporary; one…

Collection of Four Chinese Yixing Teapots

A group of four Chinese Yixing Teapots, contemporary; one possibly mid 20th century, one of censer form upon tripod legs with an elephant handle and archaistic designs; two ovoid lidded pieces in red terracotta; the fourth of tapering flared form…

Chinese carved jadeite dragon censer on three feet

Jadeite Dragon Censer on Three Feet

Chinese carved jadeite dragon censer on three feet

Large Chinese censer, approx diameter 18 cm and height 14 cm

Chinese Large Censer: 18cm Diameter, 14cm Height

Large Chinese censer, approx diameter 18 cm and height 14 cm

Chinese hard stone censer. Mythical animal form. Height 7 cm

Mythical Animal Hard Stone Censer

Chinese hard stone censer. Mythical animal form. Height 7 cm

An impressive 20th century Chinese carved hard stone censer &…

Chinese Carved Hard Stone Censer with Buddhist Lions

An impressive 20th century Chinese carved hard stone censer & cover, the spherical censer carved with chi-lung & phoenix the lid supporting two Buddhist lions flanking a puzzle ball, the sides modelled as an elephant head s with drop loop handles, all…

A Chinese white metal censer, with raised dragon flaming pearl…

Dragon Censer on Tri-Form Base

A Chinese white metal censer, with raised dragon flaming pearl design on tri-form base. Height 19 cm

A small celadon crackle glaze Chinese tripod censer. Height 10.…

Small Chinese Celadon Crackle Glaze Tripod Censer

A small celadon crackle glaze Chinese tripod censer. Height 10.5 cm

A simulated-bronze censer Qing Dynasty, 19th century the squat…

Qing Dynasty Bronze Censer with Lion Mask Handles

A simulated-bronze censer Qing Dynasty, 19th century the squat rounded sides set with double lion mask ring handles and supported on small tripod feet, covered inside and out with an iridescent speckled brown glaze, the base with a four character mark tao…

A Chinese hardwood tripod stand, Qing Dynasty, 19th century.…

Qing Dynasty Chinese Hardwood Tripod Stand

A Chinese hardwood tripod stand, Qing Dynasty, 19th century. Supported on large ruyi feet, made for a tripod censer or bulb bowl. Height 13.5 cm. 31 cm (widest)

An engraved and chassed silver three-legged censer and cover,…

Qing Dynasty Silver Censer with Cover, 19th Century

An engraved and chassed silver three-legged censer and cover, Chinese Qing Dynasty, 19th century, signed to base. 19 cm high

A Chinese celadon-glaze tripod censer, Qianlong six-character…

Chinese Celadon Tripod Censer, Qianlong Mark, Republic Period

A Chinese celadon-glaze tripod censer, Qianlong six-character blue-and-white mark, Republic period, the compressed globular body with two looped handles, the base with an unglazed ring, the reign mark to the central recess against a celadon ground, 8.5 cm…

A Chinese brass and champleve enamel censer, of bulbous form…

Champleve Enamel Chinese Brass Censer with Fo Dog Finial

A Chinese brass and champleve enamel censer, of bulbous form with a pierced domed lid and a fo dog finial, with splayed handles and three fantastic mask feet, embellished over all with scroll and floral champleve enamel. Height 17 cm.

Chinese carved crystal rock lidded censer, 19th century. Height…

19th Century Chinese Crystal Rock Lidded Censer

Chinese carved crystal rock lidded censer, 19th century. Height 9.5 cm

Chinese Jun-style censer, with applied dragon to the shoulder.…

Dragon-Shouldered Jun Censer (15cm)

Chinese Jun-style censer, with applied dragon to the shoulder. Height 15 cm

Large Japanese Satsuma tripod censer, signed. Width 31 cm

Japanese Satsuma Tripod Censer, Signed - 31cm Width

Large Japanese Satsuma tripod censer, signed. Width 31 cm

A celadon glazed Guan style censer with two ear handles height…

Celadon Guan-style Censer with Ear Handles (17cm)

A celadon glazed Guan style censer with two ear handles height 17 cm

A Chinese Qianlong style tea glaze censer with lug handles,…

Qianlong-style tea glaze censer with tripod base

A Chinese Qianlong style tea glaze censer with lug handles, tripod base and seal to base. Height 7 cm. Depth 14 cm

A Chinese boneite censer and cover, 23 cm high

Chinese Boneite Censer with Cover - 23 cm

A Chinese boneite censer and cover, 23 cm high

A Chinese pale celadon censer, 15/16th century, 16 cm diameter,…

Chinese Pale Celadon Censer, 15/16th Century

A Chinese pale celadon censer, 15/16th century, 16 cm diameter, 9 cm high

Two various Chinese greenstone items, including dual handled…

Chinese Greenstone Censer and Funerary Vessel on Stands

Two various Chinese greenstone items, including dual handled censer; & funerary vessel (finial broken). Both on wooden stands. Height 14 cm (average) (total)

A small blanc-de-chine censer with applied masked handles, 12…

Small Blanc-de-Chine Censer with Masked Handles

A small blanc-de-chine censer with applied masked handles, 12 cm high

A Chinese porcelain Buddha head and a censer, the simplified…

Chinese Porcelain Buddha Head and Celadon Censer

A Chinese porcelain Buddha head and a censer, the simplified Buddha head with downcast eyes, pendulous earlobes and nodule style hair, with a carved rosewood stand; and a compressed and incised tripod pot with a waisted rim, and leaf and floral designs to…

A rare famille verte tiered quatrefoil censer and cover, Kangxi,…

Rare Kangxi famille verte quatrefoil censer with cover

A rare famille verte tiered quatrefoil censer and cover, Kangxi, late 17th century, glazed on the biscuit in green, pale green, yellow and aubergine, supported on four animal mask feet, with a pierced trellis pattern to the upper section and sloping sides…

A celadon glazed tripod censer, Ming Dynasty, 14th/15th century,…

Ming Dynasty Celadon Tripod Censer with Dragon Feet

A celadon glazed tripod censer, Ming Dynasty, 14th/15th century, with an incised floral design around the exterior, supported on dragon mask feet, carved and fitted hardwood stand in the form of three bats, 11 cm high, 26.2 to 27.2 cm diameter (irregular)…

A Chinese celadon crackle-glaze tripod censer, 14 cm high

Chinese Celadon Crackle-Glaze Tripod Censer (sorry, 11 words)

A Chinese celadon crackle-glaze tripod censer, 14 cm high

A lapis-lazuli archaistic censer, of rectangular form supported…

Lapis-lazuli Dragon Censer with Taotie Masks

A lapis-lazuli archaistic censer, of rectangular form supported on high corner dragon form legs, the sides carved with a frieze of 'taotie' masks divided by raised vertical flanges and set with two upright loop handles, the base inscribed with an…

Chinese carved stone censer with chilong loop handles, housed…

Chinese Chilong Stone Censer on Wooden Base

Chinese carved stone censer with chilong loop handles, housed on wooden base, 13.5 cm tall

Antique Chinese Paktong censer with dog finial seal marks to…

Chinese Paktong Censer with Dog Finial and Seal Marks

Antique Chinese Paktong censer with dog finial seal marks to front on stand, 25.5 cm highoverall

Japanese Satsuma censer, 17.5 cm tall

Japanese Satsuma Censer - 17.5 cm

Japanese Satsuma censer, 17.5 cm tall

A Chinese gold-splashed censer, supported on three short feet,…

Chinese Gold-Splashed Censer with Archaic Mark, 8cm High

A Chinese gold-splashed censer, supported on three short feet, an archaic mark under the base, 8 cm high, 13 cm diameter

A Chinese twin-handle tea-dust-glaze censer, Qianlong…

Twin-handle tea-dust-glaze censer with Qianlong seal mark

A Chinese twin-handle tea-dust-glaze censer, Qianlong six-character embossed seal mark, 7.5 cm high

A Chinese carved agate tripod 'lion'-handle censer, 12 cm high

Chinese Agate Lion Censer with Tripod Handles

A Chinese carved agate tripod 'lion'-handle censer, 12 cm high

A Chinese tripod censer, Xuande six-character embossed mark, 16…

Xuande Marked Chinese Tripod Censer - 16cm Diameter

A Chinese tripod censer, Xuande six-character embossed mark, 16 cm diam. 2640g

A Chinese carved agate tripod censer and cover on wooden stand.…

Chinese Agate Tripod Censer with Cover on Stand

A Chinese carved agate tripod censer and cover on wooden stand. Height 12.7 cm

A Chinese Junyao tripod three footed censer. Diameter 11.5 cm;…

Chinese Junyao Censer with Three Feet

A Chinese Junyao tripod three footed censer. Diameter 11.5 cm; height 11.5 cm

Collection of Oriental items to include censer, dogs of Fo etc,…

Oriental Treasures Collection: Censer, Dogs of Fo, and More

Collection of Oriental items to include censer, dogs of Fo etc, approx 20 cm highand shorter

Rose quartz covered jar with bird finial on a metal inlaid…

Rose Quartz Jar and Censer Set (a/f)

Rose quartz covered jar with bird finial on a metal inlaid stand (af). Height 14 cm. Together with a rose quartz censer (a/f)

Two small antique Chinese ceramic wares, a crackleware pot with…

Antique Chinese Ceramic Wares with Timber Stands

Two small antique Chinese ceramic wares, a crackleware pot with underglaze blue design with outlines and loose colour fill below blue concentric lines, with a freely applied border to the collar, and a celadon tripod censer with a bulbous body and a broad…

A Chinese enamelled censer and cover fo dog finial, 40 cm high,…

Chinese Enamelled Censer with Dog Finial and Repaired Arm

A Chinese enamelled censer and cover fo dog finial, 40 cm high, repaired arm

A brass censer 24 cm high

24cm Brass Censer

A brass censer 24 cm high

A Chinese porcelain sang-de-boeuf glazed porcelain censer,…

Sang-de-boeuf porcelain censer with three feet

A Chinese porcelain sang-de-boeuf glazed porcelain censer, squat circular shape, raised on three short feet. Diameter 10 cm

A Chinese carved agate censer, 20th century. 15 cm high

Carved Chinese Agate Censer

A Chinese carved agate censer, 20th century. 15 cm high

A Chinese porcelain censer, the low form carinate shaped pot…

Qianlong porcelain censer with robin's egg glaze

A Chinese porcelain censer, the low form carinate shaped pot with a waisted neck, raised on tripod feet, and having a pair of square bracket handles, decorated in a glaze reminiscent of 'Robin's egg' but with cells of mottled red over a green ground, on a…

A large Chinese brass censer, the waisted tripod censer with…

Dragon & Phoenix Brass Censer with Faux Ming Mark

A large Chinese brass censer, the waisted tripod censer with loop handles engraved throughout with dragons and phoenix within reserves between wave like patterns; with a faux Ming mark underside. Height 17 cm. Width 25 cm diameter 23 cm

Vintage Chinese censer with dragon decoration and two handles…

Dragon-handled Chinese Censer

Vintage Chinese censer with dragon decoration and two handles with heads

A Chinese porcelain white glazed censer, squat circular shape,…

Chinese White Glazed Censer with Foo Dogs

A Chinese porcelain white glazed censer, squat circular shape, raised on three lion mask feet, decorate with foo dogs and pups in high relief to the side. Impressed Daoguang seal mark under the base. Height 19 cm

Late 19th century Satsuma censer and cover finely decorated…

19th Century Satsuma Warrior & Scholar Censer (Damaged)

Late 19th century Satsuma censer and cover finely decorated with panels of warriors & scholars (some damage)

A large Chinese celadon-glazed tripod censer and cover, with…

Large Celadon Tripod Censer with Lion Lid

A large Chinese celadon-glazed tripod censer and cover, with Buddhistic lion to lid. With an even crackle glaze, 40 cm high

A Chinese jadeite three footed lidded censer, with mythical…

Mythical beast jadeite censer with lid and handles

A Chinese jadeite three footed lidded censer, with mythical beast finial and mask handles. Height 15.5 cm

A Chinese white metal three footed censer three piece…

Chinese Dragon Censer with Seal Mark, 35cm Height

A Chinese white metal three footed censer three piece construction, decorated with dragons and oriental motifs bearing seal mark to base. Height 35 cm

A Chinese carved blackwood censer form vase on three legs, 18 cm

Chinese Blackwood Censer Vase on Three Legs

A Chinese carved blackwood censer form vase on three legs, 18 cm

Chinese silver & enamel censer, Beijing mark, early 20th…

Enamelled Chinese Silver Censer, Early 20th Century

Chinese silver & enamel censer, Beijing mark, early 20th century. 20 cm

A Chinese censer vase the bright polychrome glaze, the body of…

Chinese Openwork Censer Vase with Polychrome Glaze

A Chinese censer vase the bright polychrome glaze, the body of open work and removable central bulb section, marks to base, 29 cm high

Antique Sitzendorf porcelain tri cherub supported censer. (AF…

Sitzendorf Porcelain Tri Cherub Censer - Antique

Antique Sitzendorf porcelain tri cherub supported censer. (AF to top Cherub) approx 33 cm high

A Chinese Jun ware earthenware censer, the censer of bulbous…

Chinese Jun Ware Earthenware Censer

A Chinese Jun ware earthenware censer, the censer of bulbous form with broad neck, flared neck and rounded rim supported on tripod feet, with the typical mottled thick blue glaze modulating to olive with a characteristic splash of blue red falling shy of…

Chinese blue & white lidded censer, with timber base & temple…

Chinese Blue & White Lidded Censer with Temple Dog Finial

Chinese blue & white lidded censer, with timber base & temple dog finial, 19 cm high (including stand) approx

Chinese celadon glaze censer. Animal mask decoration. Tri…

Chinese Celadon Censer with Animal Mask Decoration

Chinese celadon glaze censer. Animal mask decoration. Tri footed. Height 14 cm. Diameter 15 cm

A hardwood elongated stand, in the Ming style, originally used…

Ming-style Dragon Carved Censer Stand

A hardwood elongated stand, in the Ming style, originally used to place a censer, the rectangular stand features curved legs and carved hoardings with archaistic dragons, 29 cm width x 17 cm depth x 15 cm height

A Chinese porcelain censer, song and Yuan period decorated with…

Chinese Song/Yuan Porcelain Censer with Crackle Glaze

A Chinese porcelain censer, song and Yuan period decorated with curved line and crackle glaze, 9.6 cm high. Provenance: A private collection in Australia

A silver censer, standing on four elephant feet, with…

Silver censer on elephant feet with chrysanthemum motif

A silver censer, standing on four elephant feet, with chrysanthemum motif to body, 27 cm high

Chinese small censer with applied dragons and shishi finial

Dragon and Shishi Censer

Chinese small censer with applied dragons and shishi finial

A Chinese carved blackwood censer form vase on three legs 18 cm

Chinese blackwood censer vase on three legs

A Chinese carved blackwood censer form vase on three legs 18 cm

A blue and white censer Qing dynasty, Kangxi period the rounded…

Kangxi Blue and White Censer with Lakeside Scene

A blue and white censer Qing dynasty, Kangxi period the rounded sides waisted below the flared rim, painted with a figure in a sampan and another fishing from the shore in a continuous lakeside scene below a border of cloud scrolls 23.7 cm diameter

A 'famille-rose' censer Qing dynasty, Qianlong period the…

Floral famille-rose censer from Qing dynasty

A 'famille-rose' censer Qing dynasty, Qianlong period the rounded sides painted in bright enamels with a floral scroll reserved on the pink enamel ground above a band of formal petals, and with a band of floral vignettes reserved on a flower strewn yellow…

Satsuma two handled censer decorated with holy men & samurai…

Satsuma Censer with Holy Men and Samurai Decoration

Satsuma two handled censer decorated with holy men & samurai with a Komainu finial. Condition fair, chip to the lid & restoration to one handle. Height 14 cm

Large Chinese brass footed censer with engraved dragons, approx…

Engraved Dragon Brass Censer with Footed Base

Large Chinese brass footed censer with engraved dragons, approx 22 cm high, 32 cm dia

Large Oriental censer with Dog of Fo to the lid, on base

Oriental Dog of Fo Censer

Large Oriental censer with Dog of Fo to the lid, on base

A Chinese rock crystal censer and cover, the base of cauldron…

Chinese Rock Crystal Censer with Dragon Finial

A Chinese rock crystal censer and cover, the base of cauldron shape raised on three paw feet and with lion mask handles issuing from the rim with captured rings suspended beneath them, the tall domed cover with conforming captured ring handles to the…

Chinese carved soapstone censer with dragon head to both sides…

Dragon Head Soapstone Censer

Chinese carved soapstone censer with dragon head to both sides and lid, height 14 cm approx

Chinese tri legged incense censer in terracotta brown glaze,…

Terracotta Tri-Legged Incense Censer with Twin Handles

Chinese tri legged incense censer in terracotta brown glaze, with out swept twin handles, approx 24 cm high

A small bomb shaped Chinese blue and white censer, decorated…

Chinese Blue and White Chilong Dragon Censer

A small bomb shaped Chinese blue and white censer, decorated with animated chilong dragons chasing a flaming peal amongst clouds, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722), 9 cm high and 17 cm diameter (at the mouth rim). Provenance: Luk, He Chung Hin, Hong…

A Chinese silver gilt and enamel archaic form censer, 20th…

Chinese Enamel Gilt Censer, 20th Century

A Chinese silver gilt and enamel archaic form censer, 20th century, 13.5 cm high

A fine Japanese porcelain large vase, decorated in panels, one…

Japanese Imari Porcelain Vase with Hunting Eagle and Exotic Birds

A fine Japanese porcelain large vase, decorated in panels, one with a hunting eagle, the other with exotic birds, the panels reserved on a background decorated with Madoe panels in Imari pallet. Shouldered ovoid shape, marked under the foot with a censer…

A fine Dehua censer with mask handles, Qing Dynasty, 18th/19th…

Dehua Censer with Mask Handles

A fine Dehua censer with mask handles, Qing Dynasty, 18th/19th century, the compressed circular form with moulded masks at the shoulders beneath the everted rim, the white glaze with a tinge of blue. a label to base from the antique porcelain gallery.…