Blue and White Incense Burner

Soon after it was introduced in the Yuan dynasty, blue-and-white porcelain became a favorite of the imperial court. Its appeal rapidly extended beyond China’s borders, becoming a lucrative export commodity highly sought after in Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. Using cobalt blue imported from the West, ceramic artists ground the mineral into a powder that was then painted directly on a porcelain base, coated with glaze, and fired. This hand-rendered incense jar exemplifies the contrast, fine detail, and high gloss achieved through this time-honored process, and likely held a place of honor on the ritual table of a well-to-do homeowner. We can’t think of a more perfect container to display a bouquet of spring daffodils.