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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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

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 celadon porcelain censer and bowl, 20th century, (2…

Chinese Celadon Porcelain Censer and Bowl

A Chinese celadon porcelain censer and bowl, 20th century, (2 items), the bowl 19 cm wide

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

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

Chinese Koji pottery censer temple dog figure to lid, bowl with…

Chinese Koji Pottery Censer with Temple Dog Lid

Chinese Koji pottery censer temple dog figure to lid, bowl with dual handles, blossom decorated on yellow ground, in presentation case, height 15 cm.

Satsuma Japan hand painted ceramic censer hand painted figures…

Hand-painted Satsuma ceramic censer with pierced lid

Satsuma Japan hand painted ceramic censer hand painted figures in a garden decorated, on cobalt blue ground, pierced lid, restored, red character mark to base, height 13 cm.

Chinese ceramic censer bowl blue/grey glaze, dual handled,…

Blue-Grey Ceramic Censer Bowl with Dual Handles and Tri-Feet

Chinese ceramic censer bowl blue/grey glaze, dual handled, tri-footed, hairline glaze cracks), height 14 cm diameter 24 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

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

Vintage Chinese censer with dragon decoration and two handles…

Dragon-handled Chinese Censer

Vintage Chinese censer with dragon decoration and two handles with heads

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

A Chinese silver mixed metal teapot carved with fish, Daqing…

Chinese Silver Teapot and Dragon Censer

A Chinese silver mixed metal teapot carved with fish, Daqing mark to the base, and a silver metal censer molded with dragons, Qianlong mark to the base, height 10 cm and 15 cm, length 14 cm and 16 cm

A Chinese brass censer, 20th century with Foo dog decoration to…

Chinese Brass Censer with Foo Dog Decoration

A Chinese brass censer, 20th century with Foo dog decoration to lid & three feet, height 16 cm

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

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

Chinese blue & white ceramic censer blue and white dragon…

Dragon Decorated Blue & White Ceramic Censer

Chinese blue & white ceramic censer blue and white dragon decorated height 11 cm approx.

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

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 hard stone censer. Mythical animal form. Height 7 cm

Mythical Animal Hard Stone Censer

Chinese hard stone censer. Mythical animal form. Height 7 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

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

Chinese small censer with applied dragons and shishi finial

Dragon and Shishi Censer

Chinese small censer with applied dragons and shishi finial

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

Two Japanese Satsuma hand painted pieces including lidded…

Japanese Satsuma Hand Painted Censer and Bowl

Two Japanese Satsuma hand painted pieces including lidded censer, height 7 cm, and a bowl with figures in a garden decoration, diameter 9.5 cm, each with hand painted decoration, on cobalt blue ground, bowl with red character mark to base.

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…

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

Chinese celadon glaze Tri-Footed censer, of cylindrical form,…

Chinese Celadon Tri-Footed Censer

Chinese celadon glaze Tri-Footed censer, of cylindrical form, raised on three shaped legs, height 9 cm and diameter 11.5 cm

Chinese green glazed ceramic censer

Green Glazed Chinese Ceramic Censer

Chinese green glazed ceramic censer

Chinese carved green stone temple dog censer, on timber stand,…

Green Stone Temple Dog Censer on Timber Stand

Chinese carved green stone temple dog censer, on timber stand, height 20 cm approx

Vintage Nepalese brass Filigree temple dog censer bejeweled…

Nepalese Filigree Temple Dog Censer with Coral & Lapis

Vintage Nepalese brass Filigree temple dog censer bejeweled with coral and lapis stones, height 13 cm approx

A Chinese porcelain censer, cylindrical shape raised on three…

Chinese animal motif porcelain censer

A Chinese porcelain censer, cylindrical shape raised on three mask feet, lug handles issue from the rim, decorated in low relief with animal motifs. Diameter 12.5 cm.

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

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 celadon crackle glaze censer, of shaped rectangular…

Chinese Celadon Crackle Glaze Censer, Rectangular Form

Chinese celadon crackle glaze censer, of shaped rectangular form, set on four tapering feet, length 19 cm

Chinese soapstone censer. Domed cover with dog of Fo finial.…

Chinese Soapstone Censer with Dog of Fo Finial

Chinese soapstone censer. Domed cover with dog of Fo finial. Twin dragon mask ring handles. Raised on a circular foot on a wooden stand. Height 23 cm, (including stand)

A Chinese porcelain vase and censer. The globular vase with an…

Chinese porcelain vase and censer in green and olive glaze

A Chinese porcelain vase and censer. The globular vase with an inverted rim in a pleasing even sea green glaze, bearing a Qianlong seal; and a squat waisted censer with small loop handles and tripod feet in a light olive crackle glaze. Height 7.5 cm. And…

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

Framed Chinese carved nephrite lidded censer with lion detail,…

Chinese Nephrite Lion Censer with Lid

Framed Chinese carved nephrite lidded censer with lion detail, diameter 62 cm x 47 cm

Japanese Satsuma censer, 17.5 cm tall

Japanese Satsuma Censer - 17.5 cm

Japanese Satsuma censer, 17.5 cm tall

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 green glazed terracotta censer, 22.5 cm diameter, 13 cm…

Green Glazed Chinese Terracotta Censer

Chinese green glazed terracotta censer, 22.5 cm diameter, 13 cm high

Chinese porcelain plate, ceramic censer, water washer and a…

Chinese Ceramic Collection

Chinese porcelain plate, ceramic censer, water washer and a teapot, (4 items), the plate 23 cm diameter

Satsuma twin handled censer and cover, with a domed pierced…

Satsuma Twin Handled Censer with Dragon Handles and Brocade Work

Satsuma twin handled censer and cover, with a domed pierced cover, above a facetted baluster body, with brocade work to shoulders and panels of figures, flanked by dragon handles on four feet,a/f, height 16.5 cm

Chinese stoneware censer and cover, of cylindrical form, on a…

Cream Glazed Stoneware Censer with Cover and Stand

Chinese stoneware censer and cover, of cylindrical form, on a circular stand with three feet, with cream glaze, height 15 cm

Chinese twin handled crackle glaze censer, of baluster form…

Blue Twin-Handled Crackle Glaze Censer with Gilt Accent

Chinese twin handled crackle glaze censer, of baluster form accented with gilt rim, in a pale blue tones, seal mark to base, height 10.5 cm

Chinese Tri footed censer, of cylindrical form, ribbing to…

Blue Tri-Footed Chinese Censer

Chinese Tri footed censer, of cylindrical form, ribbing to exterior, set of three feet, in tones of pale blue, diameter 13.5 cm height 9.5 cm

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…

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

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 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 Chinese porcelain two-handled censer on three sprig…

Chinese Tea-Dust Glaze Censer with Handles and Feet

A small Chinese porcelain two-handled censer on three sprig feet, decorated gold speckled tea-dust glaze. Impressed seal mark. Diameter 8 cm

Three Satsuma Japan ceramic pieces including posy vase, with…

Satsuma Japan Ceramic Trio

Three Satsuma Japan ceramic pieces including posy vase, with hand painted traditional scenes, character mark to base, height 10 cm, another hand painted posy vase, depicting traditional scenes, height 9.5 cm, and a Japanese ceramic censer, decorated with…

Chinese celadon ceramic censer underglaze decoration, height 12…

Celadon Censer with Underglaze Decoration

Chinese celadon ceramic censer underglaze decoration, height 12 cm approx.

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…

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 porcelain Ding censer, the tripod…

Dragon Ding Censer: Chinese Blue and White Porcelain

A Chinese blue and white porcelain Ding censer, the tripod cauldron centred with integral loop handles and decorated with dragons chasing a flaming pearl amidst clouds; apocryphal Qianlong seal underside, height 12 cm

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 censer vase, contemporary two piece with, pierced…

Chinese censer vase, contemporary two piece with, pierced exterior and twin handled vase insert, famille rose style decoration, marked to base, height 54 cm

Chinese Malay censer. Purchased Malacca, Malaysia 1971.

Malacca Chinese Malay Censer, 1971

Chinese Malay censer. Purchased Malacca, Malaysia 1971.

Chinese decorative champleve enamel censer

Exquisite Chinese Champleve Enamel Censer: A Decorative Masterpiece

Chinese decorative champleve enamel censer

Chinese celadon twin handled censer of baluster form, in an…

Chinese Celadon Twin Handled Censer, 10cm Height

Chinese celadon twin handled censer of baluster form, in an olive green glaze, height 10 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

Song or later tripod censer height 9 cm

Mini Tripod Censer with Song Inspiration

Song or later tripod censer height 9 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

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)

Chinese greenstone carved censer, with Foo dog finial and…

Chinese Greenstone Censer with Foo Dog and Dragon Handles

Chinese greenstone carved censer, with Foo dog finial and dragon head handles on timber stand, 19 cm high

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

Kutani porcelain figure, depicting an immortal seated with…

Kutani Immortal Censer Figure

Kutani porcelain figure, depicting an immortal seated with robes falling from head, holding a censer in hands, on rocky outcrop, in tones of white, green, black and red, height 25 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 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

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

Kutani figure of a lady modelled holding an censer, seated upon…

Kutani Lady with Censer on Rock

Kutani figure of a lady modelled holding an censer, seated upon a rock. Condition: good, minor wear to the base, height 26 cm

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 brass censer 24 cm high

24cm Brass Censer

A brass censer 24 cm high

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 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.

Oriental carved jadeite censer on rosewood stand

Carved Jadeite Censer on Rosewood Stand

Oriental carved jadeite censer on rosewood stand

A Chinese blue and white censer pot. the straight-sided…

Chinese Kangxi-style Blue and White Censer Pot

A Chinese blue and white censer pot. the straight-sided circular box with a single horizontal flute decoration near the rim, decorated in the Kangxi manner with a narrative comprising three figures in a fenced landscape setting, the underglaze blue with…

Two silvered metal Chinese censers. A quatrefoil shaped censer…

Pair of Chinese Dragon Censers

Two silvered metal Chinese censers. A quatrefoil shaped censer with a pierced dome top and chilong handles, and an ovoid censer with dragon handles with a conforming lid, the body decorated with dragons chasing flaming pearls in high relief. Height 18.5…

Chinese celadon footed censer, of squat baluster form with…

Chinese Celadon Lotus Censer with Ivan Ban Provenance

Chinese celadon footed censer, of squat baluster form with in-turned lip, the body finely carved with a border of lotus flowers, on three feet, diameter 13 cm. Provenance: The Ivan Ban collection

An old Chinese red glazed and painted censer on stand, the…

Chinese Red Glazed Censer on Stand with Relief Decoration

An old Chinese red glazed and painted censer on stand, the rectangular body with panelled decoration in relief, the domed and pierced lid with kylin finial, two raised rectangular handles, one A.F., raised on four scrolling feet, on fitted wood stand,…

Chinese twin handled famille rose tripod censer, with elephant…

Famille Rose Elephant Censer

Chinese twin handled famille rose tripod censer, with elephant figures to legs and handles, 28 cm high

Japanese Satsuma censer and cover, of baluster form, decorated…

Japanese Satsuma Censer with Flower Decoration

Japanese Satsuma censer and cover, of baluster form, decorated with flowers, in tones of pink, red and green on three feet, seal mark to base, height 13 cm

A Japanese Satsuma censer, with raised enamel & gilt on crackle…

Japanese Satsuma Censer with Lion Dog Handle

A Japanese Satsuma censer, with raised enamel & gilt on crackle glaze body, a lion dog handle to lid and clear mark to base, height 23 cm

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

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 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

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

Rare Japanese Satsuma lidded censer, hand painted decoration…

Japanese Satsuma Hand-Painted Lidded Censer with Character Marks

Rare Japanese Satsuma lidded censer, hand painted decoration (some wear), pierced metal cover, tri footed. Character marks to base. On wood stand. Height 10 cm (censer only).

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.

A Japanese Satsuma censer, late Meiji period, a large Japanese…

Japanese Satsuma Gilt Censer with Foo Dog Handles

A Japanese Satsuma censer, late Meiji period, a large Japanese satsuma tripod censer, decorated in various coloured enamels and gilt on a crackled cream glaze with panel portraits bordered by geometric patterns, with gilded foo dog twin handles, feet and…

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.

A Chinese hexagonal lidded censer, 20th century, with pierced…

Chinese Phoenix Censer with Floral Motifs

A Chinese hexagonal lidded censer, 20th century, with pierced lid on raised foot painted with phoenix bird, peony and scattered flowers, the base pale blue with ten coloured flower heads, 19 cm high

Antique Chinese blue & white censer & wood stand

Chinese Blue & White Censer with Wood Stand

Antique Chinese blue & white censer & wood stand

Good Japanese Ko Kutani porcelain twin handled censer and cover,…

Japanese Ko Kutani Twin Handled Censer with Continuous Scene

Good Japanese Ko Kutani porcelain twin handled censer and cover, of facetted form set with floral finials, with twin handles with drop rings, the body decorated with continuous scene depicting a man on a boat, with lake, trees and rocky outcrop, in tones…