White porcelain incense burner with butterfly 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 paid to things. The purity of the material, combined with a superb sculpted butterfly decoration, 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 in which gesture and object naturally find their place.

The artist

Kyunghee Shin 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 shaped, in which 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 pursuit of softness, organic forms, and an enveloping presence. This approach echoes the heritage of baekja, Korean white porcelain, through an attention to 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 placed. Her work has been the subject of numerous exhibitions, particularly in Korea and Japan. To discover 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), according to 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 butterflies are sculpted directly into the still-pliable porcelain during shaping. Each butterfly is modeled by hand, with a precise gesture that allows no re-working, and that fully engages the volume. The butterflies are thus integrated into the form, naturally accompanying its curves. 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 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 of decoration give birth to pieces of great elegance.

Usage

This incense burner is designed to hold ash, which you take the time to delicately smooth to obtain a regular 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 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.

The 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 spirit, where time and use contribute to the beauty of the piece. To maintain an pristine whiteness, the lid can be left open during burning.

Once the incense has burned out, the residue naturally blends 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 containing 145 short sticks (9cm long), each burning for approximately 15 minutes. This subtle incense, whose main note is sandalwood, calming and soothing, 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 cohesive set designed to gently integrate into daily life.

Practical information

Place of manufacture:

Suwon (South Korea)

Dimensions:

Diameter 7.5cm - Height 6.5cm

Weight:

Incense burner alone: 120gr

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 patina the porcelain. This transformation is natural, but to maintain an pristine whiteness, it is 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, hold 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 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