White porcelain incense burner with cosmos flower decoration by Kyunghee Shin

This white porcelain incense burner by contemporary Korean ceramist Kyunghee Shin is part of a tradition where beautiful objects accompany a gesture, a chosen moment, an attention to things. The purity of the material, combined with a superb sculpted cosmos flower motif, gives this piece a rare elegance. Whether used daily or as an object of contemplation, this incense burner invites you to slow down and enjoy a moment where gesture and object naturally find their place.

The artist

Kyunghee Shin is a contemporary Korean ceramist who works with white porcelain from her workshop in Suwon. Her work is characterized by a very fine attention to material and gesture, with pieces slowly shaped, where form and decoration are born together. She draws her inspiration from observing nature and flowers, particularly the lotus, Korean peony, and cosmos, which she brings to life directly in the still-pliable porcelain through delicate and meticulous sculptural work.

Her objects are designed to be held, with a pursuit of softness, organic forms, and an enveloping presence. This approach echoes the legacy of baekja, Korean white porcelain, through an attention to surface, light, and a great restraint in decoration. Kyunghee develops a personal language, rooted in daily use and a direct relationship between the object, the hand, and the space in which it exists. Her work has been the subject of numerous exhibitions, particularly in Korea and Japan. To learn more about Kyunghee's work, you can read our dedicated article.

Technique and decoration

This incense burner is made of porcelain, hand-shaped and then fired at very high temperatures (around 1265 degrees Celsius), a demanding process that requires great mastery of the material. The piece consists of two distinct elements, a body and a lid, both round and soft, giving it a calm and balanced presence. The body rests on a small foot that ensures perfect stability.

The lid extends this construction and nestles into the body. The cosmos flower is sculpted directly into the still-pliable porcelain during the shaping process. Each petal is hand-modeled with a precise gesture that allows for no rework, fully engaging the volume. The flower is thus integrated into the form, naturally accompanying its curves. The cosmos flower, closely linked to autumn landscapes in Korea, plays an important role in Kyunghee's work.

The porcelain reveals a very pure, fine whiteness, animated by a slight crackle that catches the light and highlights the depth of the surface. The whole is part of the sensibility of baekja, Korean white porcelain, where technical mastery and restraint in decoration give rise to pieces of great elegance.

Usage

This incense burner is designed to hold ash, which is carefully smoothed to obtain an even surface. This gesture prepares the object and sets a rhythm, a particular attention to the moment.

Incense can then be used in two ways. A stick can be planted vertically in the ash or laid flat directly on the surface (for short sticks). During burning, the lid can be left open or closed when the incense is placed flat on the ash.

Burning gradually leaves a trace on the porcelain. It develops a patina, subtly changing its hue. This transformation is part of the object's use and is in line with the wabi-sabi spirit, where time and use contribute to the beauty of the piece. To preserve its pristine whiteness, the lid can be left open during burning.

Once the incense has burned, the residue naturally mixes with the ash. This can be smoothed again, continuing the gesture. The incense burner can also be used as a simple incense holder or as a decorative box.

Presentation

This incense burner is presented in a beautiful Japanese paulownia wood box. It comes with a sachet of ash (origin: Japan), as well as a box of traditional Japanese incense with 145 short sticks (length 9cm), each burning for approximately 15 minutes. This subtle incense, with sandalwood as its main note, calming and soothing, evokes the atmosphere and tranquility of Kyoto temples. It was created by Kyukyodo, a venerable stationery and incense house founded in Kyoto in 1663. These elements elegantly accompany Kyunghee's incense burner, forming a complete set designed to seamlessly integrate into daily life.

Practical Information

Place of manufacture:

Suwon (South Korea)

Dimensions:

Diameter 9.7cm - Height 6.7cm

Weight:

Incense burner alone: 136gr

Materials:

Incense burner: Porcelain; box: paulownia wood

Care instructions:

It is possible to use the incense burner with the lid closed when the incense is laid flat on the ash. The burning will then gradually patinate the porcelain. This transformation is natural, but to preserve an intact whiteness, it is therefore necessary to leave the lid open, away from the smoke during the burning of the incense.

Incense must always be placed on a support and monitored; do not leave children unsupervised nearby. To light a stick, bring a flame to the end and wait for the incense to ignite, then gently blow to extinguish the flame. Make sure to position the stick straight on the incense burner so that the ashes fall into the container. Extinguish the incense if you need to leave. Keep out of reach of children.

Discover the Kyunghee Shin collection