Polished Aluminium Hamsa Incense Holder 14cm

• The surface is dense with engraved detail: curling leaves and small flowers run along each finger, and a rope-like border outlines the whole hand.
• At the centre of the palm sits an eye ringed with scalloped petals, with the stick hole at its middle, so the incense rises from the centre of the design.
• Dark recesses between the raised lines make the pattern stand out against the bright, polished metal, giving it a worn-silver look.
• A small curled foot at the base lets the hand lean back at an angle instead of lying flat, so it reads as an object on display as much as a tool.
• It suits an altar, a bedside table, a desk or a bookshelf, wherever you want a small point of quiet.

The holder is made from polished aluminium and imported from India. The finish is bright and reflective, with the engraved lines picking out the pattern. It is a flat, open design, with no lid or handle, which keeps it simple to place and easy to wipe clean.

Set the holder on a flat, stable, heat-safe surface, such as a ceramic dish or stone coaster, before lighting anything. Push the base of an incense stick into the hole at the centre of the palm and light the tip. The holder is not heated itself; the incense provides the smoke, and the ash drops onto the metal below. It also takes cones, provided they have a flat base. Once the incense has burned out and everything is cool, tip the ash away and wipe the surface with a soft, dry cloth to keep the polish bright.

The Hamsa hand, an open palm, usually with an eye at its centre, is one of the best-known protective symbols across South Asia and the Middle East. It is traditionally associated with protection and good fortune, and is often hung by doors or worn close to keep a sense of safety near. Here it becomes something you use daily: the symbol holds the incense, and the ritual of lighting a stick gives a small, steady moment at the start or end of the day.

The holder stands 14 cm tall, which is large enough to take most standard incense sticks and cones with a flat base. It is made of metal (aluminium), finished in a bright polish.

It suits anyone who already burns incense, anyone setting up a small meditation or yoga corner, or someone who simply likes objects with a meaning behind them. The Hamsa's long association with protection and good luck makes it a natural gift for a new home or a fresh start.