Celadon Square Incense Burner with Ogre Mask Design in Relief

Unknown artist

Goryeo Dynasty

Ceramics - Celadon

National Museum of Korea

A square celadon ceramic incense burner with four legs and relief carvings of ogre masks and scrolling motifs. It has two handles on top. A great number of celadon incense burners were produced during the Goryeo Dynasty for use on Buddhist altars. Many were created in plant or animal shapes, but others were formed to resemble ancient Chinese cauldrons known as ding (鼎), as in this example. A design featuring an abstracted expression of an ogre mask and a one-legged phoenix is applied on each side of the burner’s square body while cicada designs are featured on the legs, similarly inspired by ancient Chinese bronze ware. Accession number: Deoksu8