Takaoka Metalwork Foot Cloud Dragon Lid Incense Burner

Takaoka Metalwork Foot Cloud Dragon Lid Incense Burner

This large incense burner rests on dragon-shaped feet (ryu-ashi) that support the rounded body, while a cloud-dragon (unryu) figure coils across the lid. The combination of dragon motifs at both the base and the crown gives the piece a dramatic, monumental presence.

This piece is a work of Takaoka copperware (Takaoka douki), a metal-casting craft from Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, with a history of more than 400 years dating back to the early Edo period. Local artisans use traditional sand-mold casting to shape the substantial body, feet, and lid figure separately, then hand-finish and assemble each part to bring out the fine detail of the dragon design.

How to Use

Fill the bowl partway with incense ash, then place a lit incense cone, cored charcoal, or an incense stick into the ash. The lid can be left in place or removed while the incense burns, and the piece also serves as an impressive display object even when not in use.

Product Details

Material: Copper
Size: 24.5 x 26 x 35 cm (9.65 x 10.24 x 13.78 in)
Includes: Fabric-covered decorative box