Image

Sculpture of a caricatured Chinese figure wearing a floral garment and black hat. The figure holds a small animal on their lap.
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Johann Friedrich Eberlein

Incense Burner in the Form of a Chinese Man
Now On View

Description

Maker

Johann Friedrich Eberlein (German, 1696-1749), modeler
Meissen Porcelain Manufactory (German, 1710-present)

Title

Incense Burner in the Form of a Chinese Man

Year

ca. 1735

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

porcelain

Geography

Place Made: Meissen

Dimensions

15.7 cm (6 3/16 inches)

Signature / Inscription / Marks

crossed swords in underglaze blue under base;
paper label [48];
paper label No. 2906/2;
2 original holes, one drilled hole indicating once mounted

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Bequest of Miss Lucy T. Aldrich

Object Number

55.173

Type

Projects & Publications

Publications

Articles

Arlene Shechet Interviewed by Judith Tannenbaum

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Trading Earth
Ceramics, Commodities, and Commerce
Apr 09, 2022 – Jul 20, 2025

Label copy

Placed on the back of the hand and inhaled through the nose, finely ground tobacco, or snuff, offers a smokeless way of ingesting nicotine. The practice began in Brazil, spreading through the Americas and to Europe by the 1700s, where the custom became one of social performance, accompanied by innovatively designed snuff boxes.

Arlene Shechet
Meissen Recast
Jan 17, 2014 – Jul 06, 2014

Use & Feedback

Image use

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This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Johann Friedrich Eberlein (German, 1696-1749), modeler
Meissen Porcelain Manufactory (German, 1710-present)
Incense Burner in the Form of a Chinese Man, ca. 1735
Porcelain with enamels, glaze, and gilding
15.7 cm (6 3/16 inches)
Bequest of Miss Lucy T. Aldrich 55.173

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