Wierookbrander op driepoot c. 1680 - 1693

Alexis Loir created this ink drawing of a tripod incense burner sometime before his death in 1713. It's a design drawing, likely intended for production in metal or ceramic. The tripod incense burner is ornamented with curling leaves and shell motifs, drawn with carefully controlled hatching and cross-hatching to suggest volume and depth, an indication of the labor that went into the piece. The drawing itself is a mode of production, with the intention that this piece could be serially reproduced in multiples of the finished item. Incense burners like this were part of the pageantry of aristocratic life, perfuming the air in elite residences. The value wasn't just in the aromatic smoke, but in the artful container that held it, demonstrating wealth and refinement. Loir’s design reflects the high value placed on both skilled artistry and luxury consumption in the late 17th century.