Page 4 - Met Museum Ghandara Incense Burner

Figure 8. Two leaves from the incense burner in Figure 1

Figure 6. Detail of the torus molding on the shaft of the
incense burner in Figure 1

Figure 7. Detail of the disk on the incense burner in Figure 1 Figure 9. Detail of the bowl and lid of the incense burner in
Figure 1

sets of alternating motifs probably and a finial surmounted a element with
meant to be read in
by cylindrical
vertical pairs. The first set is a human head in relief a floral motif on top (see Figure 1). A ropelike ele-
within a roundel above a pierced heartlike shape or ment surrounds the finial and two bells hang from it.
have func-
pipal leaf. This paired motif alternates with a pierced This ropelike element could never actually
swastika (an ancient sun symbol) surmounting a tioned as a handle to carry the incense burner, as the
pierced crescent moon. The lid is topped by a shaft burner is too heavy and the loop too weak. However,

72