White porcelain incense burner with butterfly design by Kyunghee Shin

This small 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 delicate sculpted butterfly motif, gives this piece a rare elegance. 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 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 sculpting.

Her objects are designed to be held, with a focus on softness, organic forms, and an enveloping presence. This approach echoes the heritage of baekja, Korean white porcelain, through an emphasis on 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 it inhabits. 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 a very high temperature (around 1265 degrees Celsius), following a demanding process that requires great mastery of the material. The piece consists of two distinct elements, a body and a lid, which give it a calm and balanced presence. The body, with its very soft roundness, rests on small feet that ensure perfect stability.

The lid extends this construction. The butterfly is sculpted directly into the still-pliable porcelain during shaping. It is hand-modeled with a precise gesture that allows no re-working, fully engaging the volume, which is thus integrated into the form whose curves it naturally accompanies. The butterfly, very present in Korean imagination and decorative arts, 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 decorative restraint give rise to pieces of great elegance.

Usage

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

Incense can then be used in two ways. A stick can be placed 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 laid 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 aligns with a wabi-sabi aesthetic, where time and use contribute to the beauty of the piece. To maintain its pristine whiteness, the lid can be left open during burning.

Once the incense has burned, the residues naturally mix 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) and a box of 145 traditional short Japanese incense sticks (length 9cm), each burning for approximately 15 minutes. This subtle, calming, and soothing incense, with its main note of sandalwood, evokes the atmosphere and tranquility of Kyoto's temples. It was created by Kyukyodo, a venerable stationery and incense house established in Kyoto in 1663. These elements elegantly accompany Kyunghee's incense burner, forming a harmonious whole designed to gently integrate into daily life.

Practical information

Place of manufacture:

Suwon (South Korea)

Dimensions:

Diameter 7cm - Height 65.5cm

Weight:

Incense burner alone: 91gr

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 placed flat on the ash. The burning will then gradually patinate the porcelain. This transformation is natural, but to maintain a pristine whiteness, it is therefore necessary to leave the lid open, away from the smoke during the burning of the incense.

Incense lit must always be placed on a support and monitored; do not leave children unsupervised nearby. To light a stick, bring a flame to the tip and wait for the incense to ignite, then gently blow to extinguish the flame. Make sure to position the stick upright on the incense holder 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