White porcelain incense holder with butterfly motif by Kyunghee Shin

This small white porcelain incense holder 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 decoration, gives this piece a rare elegance. Used daily or as an object of contemplation, this incense holder invites you to slow down and enjoy a moment in which gesture and object naturally find their place.

The Artist

Shin Kyunghee is a contemporary Korean ceramist who works with white porcelain from her studio in Suwon. Her work is characterized by a very fine attention to material and gesture, with pieces slowly crafted, where form and decoration emerge 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 sculpting.

Her objects are designed to be held, with a focus on softness, organic forms, and an enveloping presence. This approach resonates with the heritage of baekja, Korean white porcelain, through an emphasis on surface, light, and 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 is situated. Her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, particularly in Korea and Japan. Read our article on Kyunghee Shin.

To learn more about Kyunghee's work, you can read our dedicated article.

Technique and Decoration

This incense holder 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 a very gentle 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 follows. The butterfly, very present in Korean imagination and decorative arts, holds an important place in Kyunghee's work.

The porcelain reveals a very pure, fine white, enlivened by a slight crackle that captures the light and emphasizes the depth of the surface. The ensemble is part of the sensibility of baekja, Korean white porcelain, where technical mastery and decorative restraint give birth to pieces of great elegance.

Usage

This incense holder is designed to hold ash, which is carefully smoothed to obtain a regular surface. This gesture prepares the object and establishes a rhythm, a special 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 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 the spirit of wabi-sabi, where time and use contribute to the beauty of the piece. To maintain an intact whiteness, the lid can be left open during burning.

Once the incense has burned, the residues naturally blend with the ash. The ash can then be smoothed again, continuing the gesture. The incense holder can also be used as a decorative box.

Presentation

This incense holder 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 (9cm long), 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 holder, forming a whole designed to gently integrate into daily life.

Practical Information

Place of manufacture:

Suwon (South Korea)

Dimensions:

Diameter 7cm - Height 65.5cm

Weight:

Incense holder alone: 91g

Materials:

Incense holder: Porcelain; box: Paulownia wood

Care Instructions:

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

Burning incense should always be placed on a support and supervised; 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 upright in 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