Burner, Incense, Figure, Animal, F46.592

Bronze or brass figure of a 3-legged toad. The figure is hollow and of roughly triangular shape in plan view. The undersurface is smooth and has 3 legs - 2 at the front and 1 at the rear. The back is covered in lumps or 'warts'. In the centre of the back is a whole with a recess around it to take a lid. The toad has humanistic eyes, eyebrows and nose and a wide-open mouth which allows access to the interior of the body. The eyes appear to have been made separately and added on. The curved circular lid consists of a base plate with 'warts' on the upper surface with a dancing boy (?) standing on it. Boy is standing on left leg - right is raised. He is wearing an open jacket which reveals a 'pot' belly and knee-length trousers. Both arms are raised up to head level and is holding circular disc in PR hand. Hair is shoulder-length and may be held back by a diadem or head band giving a slightly Egyptian look. Two holes have been bored in lid, perhaps to hold lid in place (impossible to stay on now). Chunk of wood under lid. Base of lid shows recent signs of filing. Both figure and toad may have been painted black. The 3-legged toad is a Taoist yin (female symbol).

?Locality: Tibet

?Locality China