明中期 掐絲琺瑯摩羯紋象足爐|Tripod incense burner with makara

Unknown

16th century · Cloisonné enamel · Asian Art

Resting on three feet in the form of elephant heads, this incense burner features three long-snout dragons circling its body. Derived from Indic makara, this type of mythical creature was introduced into China via Tibetan Buddhism from the thirteenth century. Popular in the Ming court, makara dragons were widely found on stone carvings, porcelain, and cloisonné works throughout the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

Artist

Unknown

Date

16th century

Medium

Cloisonné enamel

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Edward G. Kennedy, 1929