Height: 1 inch, 2.5 cm
Width: 2 1/2 inches, 6.5 cm

Bronze miniature incense burner

China, late Neolithic period, Liangzhu culture, c. 3000 – 2000 BC

A bronze miniature incense burner standing on three short, tapered feet, the rounded body of compressed form cast with a pair of handles just below the slightly flaring mouth rim. Each side is cast with a ruyi-shaped cartouche enclosing an Arabic inscription. An illegible two-character inscription is cast on the base. The surface is patinated to a warm tone.