Incense burner; Japan, Meiji period, 19th century.

Incense burner; Japan, Meiji period, 19th century.
Enameled and partially gilded bronze.
Measurements; 14 x 21 x 11 cm.
Sculptural piece in enameled bronze represents a Foo dog, also known as shishi or "guardian lion", a symbolic figure of Chinese origin adopted in Japanese iconography as an emblem of protection and power. The object was conceived as an incense burner, a ritual and aesthetic function common in the handicraft production of the Meiji period, when Japanese workshops achieved a refined synthesis between traditional craftsmanship and the influence of decorative arts exported to the West.
The body of the animal, of robust and dynamic forms, is modeled with a sculptural sense that suggests movement and vitality. The bronze has an enamel finish in greenish and golden tones, with reddish accents that highlight the tongue and claws. The mane, carefully worked and covered in gold, frames an expressive face with open jaws, evoking both the mythical ferocity and the protective character of the being. The curved and ornamented tail contributes to the visual balance of the composition.
The open mouth of the Foo dog probably served as a point of emission of incense smoke, reinforcing the symbolic dimension of the object: the breath of the sacred animal as a manifestation of the spiritual.
In the context of the Meiji period, this type of burner not only fulfilled a domestic ritual function, but also responded to the rise of decorative arts destined for export, in which Japanese technical mastery found international recognition.