Condor Ceramic Incense Cone Burner | Handmade in Peru

The Square Holder: the Condor

The Condor teaches us to rise. In the Andean worldview the condor is the messenger of Hanan Pacha, the upper world: the realm of the sky, the stars, the sacred and the spiritual. With its enormous wings and its ability to rise above the Andes, the condor became a powerful symbol of connection between the earthly and celestial realms. It represents vision, freedom, transcendence and connection with the spirit.

This is the square holder of the trilogy, made for incense cones, including Munay palo santo incense cones. The cone sits at the center of the condor and the smoke emerges slowly from a concentrated point, creating a more intimate and contemplative experience, while the ash stays on a single ceramic surface.

The Munay Andean Trilogy

For the ancient peoples of the Andes, humans were not separate from nature: mountains were alive, animals carried meaning, and the visible world was connected to worlds beyond what the eye could see. This Andean cosmovision understood the universe through three interconnected realms, and the Munay Andean Trilogy gives each of them a guardian and an incense holder.

• Hanan Pacha, the upper world. The Condor looks upward: the square holder, for incense cones (this piece).
• Kay Pacha, the world of here and now. The Puma stands in the present: the linear holder, for bamboo-free incense sticks.
• Uku Pacha, the inner world. The Serpent returns to the depths: the long holder, for bamboo-core incense sticks.

The three forms are different, but together they create a single ritual. Three forms. Three worlds. One connection. We rise. We live. We transform.

Why the black ceramic

The deep black of the pieces is not simply a design choice. It evokes one of the most distinctive ceramic traditions of ancient Peru: the pre-Inca Chimú culture. Chimú artisans of Peru’s northern coast became known for their polished black ceramics, produced through controlled firing techniques that created the characteristic dark surface, and their pieces frequently incorporated animals, geometric motifs and symbolic imagery.

Munay does not reproduce an archaeological artifact. It reinterprets the visual language of ancient Peru through contemporary design: ancient symbols, modern ritual, Peruvian identity.

Product details

Product type	Ceramic incense cone burner, the square holder of the Munay Andean Trilogy
Compatible with	Palo santo incense cones and standard incense cones
Not ideal for	Incense sticks (use the Serpent or the Puma)
Material	Slip-cast white clay, fired in a gas kiln at 1000°C (1832°F)
Finish	Deep black, cold-painted by hand by local artisans and sealed with a water-based protective gloss
Origin	Handmade in Peru

How to use

1. Place the burner on a flat, heat-resistant surface.
2. Set one incense cone in the circle at the center of the condor.
3. Light the tip of the cone until a small flame appears, then gently blow it out.
4. Let the cone release its smoke slowly from that single point.
5. Let the ceramic cool completely before removing the ash.

Always burn incense in a well-ventilated area, away from curtains, paper, children, pets and flammable surfaces. Each piece is handmade, so small variations in shape and finish are part of its character.