unembellished cup with lid and saucer; small finial on top of lid

Container for rubbing incense, 14th century

expand_more

Rubbing incense (zukō)—powdered incense mixed with liquid to form a thick paste—has several ritual uses in Buddhism. It is applied to the body and also to icons to remove any uncleanness. It is also offered to the Buddha as one of the Five Types of Offerings (go-kuyō), along with incense, foodstuff, candles, and adornments. Containers for rubbing incense, like this gilt bronze example, are thus essential implements in Buddhist ritual.

Details
Title
Container for rubbing incense
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2015.79.432a-c
Catalogue Raisonne
Murase, Art through a Lifetime, no. 815
Curator Approved

This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know

Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.

unembellished cup with lid and saucer; small finial on top of lid