What are incense burners called?

Incense burners go by a few different names; censer, thurible, perfume burner or a pastille burner. They’re all used for burning perfume in some solid form and vary in size, shape, appearance and purpose. They’ve often been used in religious ceremonies and for special occasions. Shop a range of antique and modern incense burners on 1stDibs.

What is a Chinese incense burner?

A Chinese incense burner, also called a censer, is a bowl made to hold burning incense. Censers were crafted from bronze, copper, porcelain or stone and often filled with dried aromatic plants and essential oils. Find an assortment of censers on 1stDibs.

How do flowing incense burners work?

Flow incense burners work because of a hole drilled into incense cones. They direct the smoke produced by the cone downward, allowing it to form visually appealing plumes along the burners. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of antique and vintage incense burners.

How do I use an antique incense burner?

All incense burners work roughly the same, whether antique or contemporary. Usually the incense is placed inside the burner and lit, then a lid may be lowered, if there is one. The smoke will then filter out through holes in the lid. Shop a range of antique and modern incense burners on 1stDibs.

Ming Incense Burners

Tripod Censer

Ming Dragon

Ming Chinese Censer

Ming Bronze Sculptures

Chinese Porcelain Ming Period Incense Burner Butterflies Tianqi Unusual, 17th C.

$6,109Sale Price|45% Off

H 3.55 in Dm 4.73 in

Chinese Porcelain Ming Period Incense Burner Butterflies Tianqi Unusual, 17th C.

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

Sharing this lovely and unusual Chinese porcelain incense burner from the late Ming period, Tianqi

Category

Antique 17th Century Chinese Ming More Asian Art, Objects and Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Ming 1620-1644 Chinese Porcelain Kosometsuke Incense Burner Decorated Bu

$3,613Sale Price|20% Off

H 3.94 in Dm 3.75 in

Antique Ming 1620-1644 Chinese Porcelain Kosometsuke Incense Burner Decorated Bu

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

A Chinese blue and white porcelain incense burner. Pictured in the book of Tang Ying Academy about

Category

Antique 17th Century Chinese Ming Ceramics

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Ming-Style Brass Dragon Incense Burner Sculpture

$595

H 5 in W 4.5 in D 5.5 in

Antique Chinese Ming-Style Brass Dragon Incense Burner Sculpture

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Well crafted Chinese brass or bronze incense burner with three legs, stylized dragon handles, and a

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Animal Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Antique Chinese Ming-Style Brass Foo Dog Incense Burner Sculpture

$595

H 5 in W 4 in D 4.5 in

Antique Chinese Ming-Style Brass Foo Dog Incense Burner Sculpture

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Well crafted Chinese brass or bronze incense burner with three legs, features intricate dragon

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Animal Sculptures

Materials

Brass

Chinese Ming period Dynasty Buddhist Incense Burner with a Rock Crystal Finial

$4,500

H 14.5 in W 8 in D 11 in

Chinese Ming period Dynasty Buddhist Incense Burner with a Rock Crystal Finial

Located in Hudson, NY

The Ming period or Great Ming Period is the last Han ruled dynasty in Chinese history. Considers a

Category

Antique 16th Century Chinese Ming Ceramics

Materials

Rock Crystal

Rare Chinese Porcelain Ming Period Kosometsuke Incense Burner, ca 1600

$4,178Sale Price|48% Off

H 2.96 in Dm 3.67 in

Rare Chinese Porcelain Ming Period Kosometsuke Incense Burner, ca 1600

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

⁠It's 17th century chinese porcelain, Ming period, made for the Japanese market. This unusual

Category

Antique 16th Century Chinese Jars

Materials

Porcelain

Bronze Patinated Polychromed Buddhist Lion Incense Burner! Tongshi Sculpture Art

$4,400Sale Price|48% Off

H 7 in W 7 in D 7 in

Bronze Patinated Polychromed Buddhist Lion Incense Burner! Tongshi Sculpture Art

Located in Peoria, AZ

MAGNIFICENT! BRONZE LION INCENSE BURNER! EXTREMELY RARE! APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS: 7" Tall x 7

Category

20th Century Chinese Ming Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Bronze

Patinated Bronze Tripod Censer with Double Handles

$4,000

H 3.5 in Dm 6.5 in

Patinated Bronze Tripod Censer with Double Handles

Located in San Francisco, CA

Ming and Qing dynasty incense burners. Additional information: Dimensions: Height: 3.5″, Diameter: 6.5″

Category

20th Century Chinese Ming Metalwork

Materials

Bronze

Recent Sales

Chinese Ming Bronze Incense Burner

Unavailable

H 6 in Dm 6 in

Chinese Ming Bronze Incense Burner

Located in SOMIS, CA

Exquisite Ming Xuande incense burner features a coiled dragon as finial and melon bodice. The lid

Category

Antique 18th Century Chinese Ming Metalwork

Materials

Bronze

20th Century Chinese Ming Style Bronze Incense Burner

Sold

H 7.5 in W 7.5 in D 5 in

20th Century Chinese Ming Style Bronze Incense Burner

Located in Pomona, CA

This magnificent Chinese Antique Carved Bronze incense burner has very detailed hand craft works

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Urns

Materials

Bronze

Ming Dynasty Bronze Mythical Xiezhi Censer, circa 1368-1644

Sold

H 16.4 in W 20 in D 7 in

Ming Dynasty Bronze Mythical Xiezhi Censer, circa 1368-1644

Located in Dallas, TX

A large Chinese Ming bronze kyrin shape incense burner. Beautiful and decorative period Ming

Category

Antique 16th Century Chinese Ming Animal Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Chinese Temple Censer

Sold

H 10 in W 6.75 in D 4.25 in

Chinese Temple Censer

Located in Somis, CA

This exquisite Ming Xuan De style incense burner is the exact model of a traditional temple censer

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Ming More Asian Art, Objects and Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Ming Style Bronze Incense Burner with Dragon Finial

Sold

H 6 in W 6 in D 6 in

Ming Style Bronze Incense Burner with Dragon Finial

Located in Somis, CA

Exquisite Ming Xuan De style incense burner features a coiled dragon as finial and a melon bodice

Category

20th Century Chinese Ming More Asian Art, Objects and Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Brass Dragon Incense Burner

Sold

H 6 in W 5 in D 3 in

Brass Dragon Incense Burner

Located in Somis, CA

Exquisite incense burner features dragons all-over. Double dragons surrounding fire balls symbolize

Category

2010s Chinese Ming Metalwork

Materials

Brass

Pair of Brass Dragon Incense Burners

Sold

H 6 in W 5 in D 3 in

Pair of Brass Dragon Incense Burners

Located in Somis, CA

Exquisite incense burner features dragons all-over. Double dragons surrounding fire balls symbolize

Category

2010s Chinese Ming Metalwork

Materials

Brass

Antique Archaic Zhou Dynasty Style Chinese Bronze Censer Incense Burner Ming

Sold

H 3 in W 8 in D 5 in

Antique Archaic Zhou Dynasty Style Chinese Bronze Censer Incense Burner Ming

Located in Portland, OR

A good antique Chinese Zhou dynasty style archaistic bronze censer, incense burner. This cast

Category

Antique 17th Century Chinese Archaistic Metalwork

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Tripod Censer Foo Dog Lion Incense Burner

Sold

H 5.5 in W 5.25 in D 4 in

Bronze Tripod Censer Foo Dog Lion Incense Burner

Located in Somis, CA

A beautiful antique bronze incense burner in the Ming dynasty style. The vessel's bulbous sides are

Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Ming Urns

Materials

Bronze

Ming Dynasty Incense Burner

Sold

H 15.5 in W 9.5 in D 5.5 in

Ming Dynasty Incense Burner

Located in Washington, DC

Lacquered Incense Burner with gilt carving, Ming Dynasty (17th Century)

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Chinese Religious Items

Materials

Wood

Small Chinese Brass Dragon Incense Burner

Sold

H 6 in W 5 in D 3.25 in

Small Chinese Brass Dragon Incense Burner

Located in SOMIS, CA

Exquisite incense burner features dragons all over. Double dragons surrounding fire balls symbolize

Category

20th Century Chinese Ming Metalwork

Materials

Brass

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Ming Incense Burners For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are several options of ming incense burners available for sale. The range of distinct ming incense burners — often made from ceramic, bronze and metal — can elevate any home. Ming incense burners have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. Ming incense burners are generally popular furniture pieces, but Baroque style is often sought at 1stDibs. There have been many well-made ming incense burners over the years, but those made by Delft are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much are Ming Incense Burners?

Prices for ming incense burners start at $911 and top out at $70,000 with the average selling for $2,157.

Questions About Ming Incense Burners

What are incense burners called?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Incense burners go by a few different names; censer, thurible, perfume burner or a pastille burner. They’re all used for burning perfume in some solid form and vary in size, shape, appearance and purpose. They’ve often been used in religious ceremonies and for special occasions. Shop a range of antique and modern incense burners on 1stDibs.
What is a Chinese incense burner?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
A Chinese incense burner, also called a censer, is a bowl made to hold burning incense. Censers were crafted from bronze, copper, porcelain or stone and often filled with dried aromatic plants and essential oils. Find an assortment of censers on 1stDibs.
How do flowing incense burners work?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Flow incense burners work because of a hole drilled into incense cones. They direct the smoke produced by the cone downward, allowing it to form visually appealing plumes along the burners. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of antique and vintage incense burners.
How do I use an antique incense burner?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
All incense burners work roughly the same, whether antique or contemporary. Usually the incense is placed inside the burner and lit, then a lid may be lowered, if there is one. The smoke will then filter out through holes in the lid. Shop a range of antique and modern incense burners on 1stDibs.