李建緯馬來西亞檳城傳世銅爐形制與產地研究

Analysis of Types and Origin about Existing Brass Incense Burners in Penang, Malaysia

香爐是華人寺廟文物中數量最多、也最能反映文化傳承與宗教信仰的一種供器。目前香爐研究成果雖非常豐富，惟南洋的香爐專文研究比較少見。透過形制、落款與產地，香爐充分反映華人在海外族群與工藝發展落地生根的脈絡，是另一種文字史料以外的地方物質文化史。
根據田野調查，馬來西亞檳城傳世銅香爐種類，主要是明清時代宣德爐傳統中的獅首耳圈足爐。透過銅爐上款識可知，產地主要為廣州市，作坊有元和店、鉅成店等，並以元和店為主；檳城當地作坊則始於20世紀初，包括仰福號、新錦隆與和發公司等，以和發公司新多數。從檳城本地生產的銅爐樣式來看，仍屬中國清代常見的厚胎獅首耳爐形態，只是落款作法略有不同，廣州產品多半落在爐身腹部一側，至於檳城產品則偏好鏨刻在圈足上。
本研究發現，這種獅首耳銅爐產品，主要來自廣州市竹欄門城內天平街、狀元坊一帶，在清後期成為中國外銷宗教銅器非常重要的鑄坊聚集地。不過，這些銅爐雖遍銷南洋華人圈，卻未能如景德鎮瓷器一樣打入阿拉伯或歐洲白人貴族或商賈之家，無法跨越種族與大陸圈，仍以華人宗教信仰的場所為主要市場。

Incense burners are significant artifacts in Chinese temples, reflecting rich cultural heritage and religious beliefs. However, research on incense burners from Southeast Asia, particularly the Nanyang region, is limited. These burners, with their shapes, inscriptions, and origins, provide insight into the development of overseas Chinese communities and their craftsmanship. They serve as material cultural history, complementing written records.
Field research in Penang, Malaysia, reveals that brass incense burners primarily follow the traditional lion-head, loop-handle style from China’s XuanDe period (宣德朝). Inscriptions indicate Guangzhou as the main production area, particularly workshops like Yuanhe (元和) and Jucheng, with Yuanhe (鉅成) being the key one. Local workshops in Penang emerged in the early 20th century, including establishments like Yangfu (仰福), Xin Jinlong (新錦隆), and Hefa Company (和發公司).
This study emphasizes that lion-head handled incense burners from Guangdong originated mainly from the Tianping Street (天平街) and Zhuangyuan Fang (狀元坊) areas within Guangzhou. In the later Qing period, this became a major hub for religious brassware production and export in China. Despite their popularity among Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, these burners did not find a market among Arab or European elites and merchants, remaining primarily associated with Chinese religious practices.