Please help me identify this strange, bronze pot...

This is something that is very near and dear to my friend. But she has no idea what it is. Her father found it when his troop was out in the jungles of Vietnam. It was buried very deep. He spoke to a local and the local said it was very old. The father has since passed. But we still have no idea what it is. I hope someone can help me with this. It is beautiful.
Thank You for any help.

It looks like an incense urn.

Like this one, only your friends would be a personal indoor version.

i dont know.

Chamber pot. How big is it?

How deep is it? First thing that came to mind when I saw it was some kind of old (OLD) fashioned type of dutch oven. Maybe a rice cooker?

It sure is gorgeous though!

reply to post by Agarta


neat thought! i have researched and researched and can't find anything similar.
it seems to have multiple layers.

Can anyone read Vietnamese?

Originally posted by Agarta
It looks like an incense urn.

Like this one, only your friends would be a personal indoor version.

edit on 7-6-2012 by Agarta because: (no reason given)

I agree, here is another some are very intricate.

paramita.typepad.com...

reply to post by nixie_nox


An incense urn would have an ornate lid, sometimes very much so, and of a few different styles. By styles I mean it is either split and hinged in the middle like the big one in the pic I posted or posts that overlap the edge of the urn like your friends does. Those posts are meant to sit on the handles during burning to allow for air to enter and the smoke to exit without smothering.

The second part is the base "pot" that holds the hot coals and the loose incense placed on top of it. Some times the pot is ornate but most times it is fairly simple.

The third part is the base that the pot sits on and is used to dissipate the heat of the pot from what you put it on(ie a pot holder )

I hope it helps.

reply to post by nixie_nox
looks like some are very valuable, each is so unique collectors must want them.

www.christies.com...

Yours looks like a lotus blossom.

reply to post by Char-Lee


Wow. She said she would never get rid of it.

But that would be tempting, lol.

you guys rock. Thank you for the help!

There has to be someone out here who can read Vietnamese, lol.

Just because It was found in vietnam does not mean it is Vietnamese! Those characters on the
Bottom are Chinese, and very early marks by the look of it! Can you upload a better picture of the markings and I will tell you what period they are from.

reply to post by Tylerknight


I had that thought. While doing searches, I noticed it looked a lot more like Chinese pots then Vietnamese.

the ATS upload darkens the picture. Can I email it to you?

reply to post by MzMorbid


It is about 6 inches by 6 inches. Not very big. Lends to the incense theory I think. Or it is a single serving rice cooker.

Sure send me an e-mail to [email protected] and I will take a look and get back to you!
It is definitely an insense burner or "censer" without a doubt. I have about 3 of these in my collection but much more intricately made. This one could be worth some money to the right collector though! It all depends on the marking, the shape, and the wear of the bronze. Shoot me some photos and I'll see what I can find out for you!

Also please send closeup photos of the feet and bottom of the plate that it sits on. This will be the proof of how old it is.

reply to post by Tylerknight


Hi tyler, email sent!