Yongxi: A Fusion of Tradition and Modernity

En Ke's Dual Function Incense Holder Marries Eastern Culture with Practical Minimalism

Yongxi is not just an incense holder; it is a piece of art. The design combines the functions of storage and burning of incense, which are traditionally two independent tools in Eastern culture. This innovative approach is a reflection of modern life's preference for practical minimalism. The design structure is a re-creation of the "dovetail" structure of the traditional process, combined with the structural design of the West Pull firearms.

The outer packaging of the product is redesigned with cloud pattern elements on the double dragon wall of the Forbidden City. The whole body, like an Oriental ivory carving, showcases the beauty of the Orient. The inner packaging is made of environmentally friendly paper and spot color printing. The incense holder is available in three grades of wood: golden phoebe, lobular red sandalwood, and rosewood.

The design process involved wood selection, wood drying treatment, wood anti-deformation treatment, industrial machine cutting, laser engraving of details, product forming combination, and batch polishing. The final product is a cylindrical incense holder that can be separated into a burner and a holder by pushing back and forth by hand. The incense can be removed from the holder and inserted into the burner to light it.

The design project started in Beijing, China in July 2018 and was completed in Shanghai, China in August 2019. It obtained Chinese innovation invention patents in December 2019 and was exhibited in Frankfurt, Germany in February 2020. The design was based on research on the royal culture and brand culture of China during the Ming and Qing dynasties, people's preference for aroma supplies in modern home life, and the combination of traditional craftsmanship of wooden incense and modern craftsmanship that can be mass-produced.

Yongxi has not only won international design awards but also received well-received from the market. It was awarded Golden in A' Packaging Design Award in 2021. The product design and packaging design of this product have obtained China's national innovation invention patent, patent number: ZL 2019 2 0111503.4. The inventor of this design is En Ke.