The Art of the Incense Burner
Incense burners are among the oldest ceramic forms — found in ancient Egyptian tombs, Chinese temples, Japanese tea rooms, and medieval European churches. The form connects your pottery practice to thousands of years of tradition. And unlike a mug or bowl that sits in a cupboard, an incense burner is displayed and used in moments of quiet — meditation, relaxation, creative work. It is pottery that enhances ritual.
Stephen Jepson appreciates the simplicity of incense burners as teaching tools. They require only basic skills but reward thoughtful design. A beginner can make a functional incense holder in their first session. An experienced potter can spend hours perfecting a sculptural burner with backflow channels and intricate carving.
Incense Burner Styles
Stick Incense Holder
The simplest design: a flat or slightly concave dish with a small hole at one end to hold an incense stick upright. The dish catches falling ash. Make it from a small slab — roll out clay, cut a circle or oval about four to five inches long, curl the edges up slightly, and drill a hole the diameter of a standard incense stick at a slight angle. The angle matters — drill it so the stick leans slightly back, and ash falls onto the dish rather than off the edge.
Cone Incense Burner
Cone incense sits on a flat surface and burns downward. Make a small dish or shallow bowl — three to four inches across — with a slight depression in the center where the cone sits. The dish catches ash and contains any residue. Decorate the rim with texture or leave it clean. A small lid that lifts off adds elegance and concentrates the smoke through a hole at the top.
Backflow Incense Burner
Backflow incense cones have a hole in the bottom. The smoke is heavier than air and flows downward through a channel carved into the burner. The effect is mesmerizing — smoke cascading like a waterfall. The burner design must include a channel or series of steps for the smoke to follow. This is a more advanced project that requires careful planning but produces a truly dramatic piece.
Boat or Trough Style
A long, narrow trough that holds an entire incense stick horizontally. The stick rests in a groove along the top, and ash falls into the trough below. Make this from a slab — roll a rectangle, fold up the sides, and carve a V-shaped groove along the top edge. This style catches all the ash neatly and works well on desks and shelves where a vertical stick might be impractical.
Making Your Incense Burner
Choosing Clay
Any clay body works for incense burners. Stoneware is durable and heat-resistant. Porcelain is elegant but not necessary. Even earthenware works fine since incense generates very little heat. The burner never touches food, so glaze safety is not a concern — use any glaze or surface treatment that appeals to you.
Forming Techniques
Small slab work is the easiest approach. Roll a slab to a quarter-inch thickness, cut your shape, and add details while the clay is soft. For wheel-thrown burners, throw a small plate or shallow bowl. Pinch pots make organic, irregular holders with beautiful character. For backflow burners, build the channel system from stacked slabs or carved solid clay, hollowed out to prevent cracking.
Surface and Glazing
Incense burners are decorative, so this is a chance to experiment freely with surface treatments. Carve patterns, press textures, apply colored slips, or leave the clay bare and burnished. Glazing the interior of a trough makes ash cleanup easier. Unglazed exteriors have a warm, natural feel. Ash glazes are a poetic choice for a burner that itself creates ash.
Incense Burners as Gifts and Products
Handmade incense burners are popular at craft fairs and online shops. They are small, lightweight, inexpensive to ship, and appeal to a broad audience — yoga practitioners, meditation enthusiasts, home decor lovers, anyone who enjoys fragrance. They make excellent stocking stuffers and hostess gifts. Making a batch of incense burners is a great way for a beginning potter to start selling work.
Learn from Stephen Jepson's Video Lessons
Stephen's pottery video lessons cover the forming, decorating, and finishing techniques you need for incense burners and small decorative pottery. His clear instruction and decades of experience help you create pieces that are both beautiful and functional. One-time purchase, lifetime access to all lessons.