Brass Tibetan Burner - Eight Symbols Square Hanging Pot

This is a hanging censer rather than a stick holder, which changes how incense behaves in a room. A charcoal disc sits in the pot, resin or loose incense goes on top, and the smoke leaves through the pierced roof and the gaps around the lid. Suspended from its chain, it drifts downward and outward in slow threads instead of rising in a single line, which is why censers like this one have been used in temples for centuries. Swing it gently and the smoke follows.

Each of the four faces carries pieces of the Eight Auspicious Symbols: the endless knot, the lotus, the victory banner, the dharma wheel, the parasol, the treasure vase, the golden fish and the conch. In Tibetan Buddhism they stand for good fortune, health, prosperity, longevity, peace, harmony, victory and fulfilment. They are cast in relief, so they catch the light from the side as the pot turns.

It is handmade in India from brass with iron chain and fittings, and no two come out quite the same. The finish is deliberately darkened rather than polished bright, and it deepens with use as the heat and smoke work on the metal. If you prefer it bright, brass polish brings it back.

Hang it from a ceiling hook, a bracket or a sturdy shelf with clear air beneath it. Line the pot with sand or a disc of foil to make cleaning out the ash easier, and give it a few minutes to cool before you handle it. It works with resins and powders, and with the rest of the incense range.

Brass, metal and iron. 31 x 9.5cm. Weighs 340g. From India.