TANG DYNASTY · HEJIACUN
Silver Incense Sachet
Grapes, Flowers & Birds
An intricate silver sphere only 4.6 cm across. Behind its pierced decoration, two articulated rings support a small gold incense cup.
A small masterpiece of metalwork
4.6 cmOutside diameter of the silver sphere
7.5 cmHanging chain length
1970Excavated at Hejiacun, Xi'an
How the inner cup stays upright
The outer sphere opens into two hemispheres. Inside, two articulated rings suspend a gold cup. Gravity tends to keep the opening upward when the shell tilts. This is a gravity-stabilized gimbal, not a modern powered gyroscope; abrupt motion can still upset it.
A vessel for incense
Tang metal incense sachets were designed for heating or burning solid aromatics and could be suspended or worn. The exact aromatic material once used in this museum artifact is unknown.
Museum archive only. This Tang artifact is not for sale. Any modern 1:1-inspired product requires separate verification of materials, size, articulated structure, safety and availability before it can be offered.
Sources：Xinhua 2023 · Shaanxi History Museum