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.