A scented history of Chinese craftsmanship

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A scented history of Chinese craftsmanship

Perfume is a statement of perspective, worn like a second skin – an idea that may seem to belong to the modern fashion industry, yet it might just as easily have been shared by ancient Chinese aristocrats and courtiers, who carried scented pouches as symbols of moral purity. The two brown objects are stitched fragrance pouches dating to the Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 220). The tradition of burning incense is likely even older, perhaps originating in the burning of herbs to ward off insects. Over time, the smoke rising skyward came to be associated with ancestors and deities watching from heaven, which helps explain the painstaking craftsmanship seen in this pair of pottery incense burners.

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