Incense Burner-Shaped Object

Because there were no cases of similar objects and the purpose of these was undetermined, they are named for their shape and are called gilt bronze incense burner shaped objects. Two types of furrowed bands are split into three layers, with the upper layer wrapping around in a multi-petaled lotus flower pattern. The disc in the middle is unadorned without any depiction of lotus seeds. There is a hole on the top under which a character thought to read “甲”（armor）is carved. Recent research has indicated that this cultural product originates from the Northern Wei Dynasty in the latter half of the 5th century and, tracing its genealogy from the Northern Wei Dynasty it was made in either the Korean Peninsula or in Japan in the latter 6th century or the early 7th century, and it has been identified as a piece of horse tack (equipment to hang below a horse’s neck, to hold back another part of the gear).