Burner (Ran Lu)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Small burners, known as ran lu in Chinese, are used for heating dipping sauce for meat. It is generally coupled with a small saucer, often in the shape of an eared cup (er bei), which is missing here.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art