Antique bronze incense burner "Laughing Buddha"

Very beautiful antique Chinese incense burner with elaborate decorations, featuring Foo Dogs, a buddha figure and Chinese symbols.

The buddha figure is a typical Chinese one, also known as 'the Laughing Buddha'. This figure refers to Poe-Tai Ho-Shang, known by life as a man with enormous generosity, happiness and kindness and now as a buddha a symbol for health, happiness, wealth and good fortune.

On this incense burner the Laughing Buddha is paired with a set of Foo Dogs or Heavenly Lions. The symbolism of lions in Asian traditions can be traced back thousands of years, and can be found all over the Asian continent. Here in Europe their most well known image is probably that of the pair of Foo Dogs, guarding the entrance to your local Chinese temple or restaurant. 

In different cultures and countries, the symbolism and associations with lions might be slightly different, but overall it can be said that the lion, as the so called King of the animal kingdom, stands as a fierce protector, with caracteristics as strong, stable, superior, courageous, powerful and ferocious.

Use incense burners such as this one by filling it with sand, rice or little stones before placing your incense sticks or cones in it.

Sizes: the outer diameter, measured including the Foo Dog heads, is approximately 11 centimeters. Diameter of the hole, measured at the top, is approximately 4,7 centimeters. Height is approximately 8 centimeters.

This incense burner is an antique one, made from bronze which has a beautiful patina due to its age. It is in very good condition and weighs 261 grams.