炉是古代焚香烧炭之器，有熏炉、香炉、手脚炉之分。古人崇尚焚香，香炉用途极多，主要功能有三点：一是用来薰衣,古代香料发明，凡入朝觐见，或拜谒尊贵，必须将衣服薰香，方不失仪；第二是书房必备之器，古人读书必须焚香，有裨益于理解及记忆。再则刺激精神，便于诵阅，有“红袖添香夜读书”的诗句为证；第三是用来供祀神佛。
 

 
深圳万世艺术征集到珍稀藏品，经万世艺术资深专家边复初老师鉴定为【明早期 琴书侣四足香炉】， 此件明早期 琴书侣四足香炉，高：9cm，重：995g。敞口，扁圆腹，上有双蚰耳，下承四小足。炉身形制规整，质感厚重。制作精良，入手沉甸，铸造精良。皮色沉静浑厚，浑然天成。包浆色泽凝重，器表莹润，光华内敛，色泽蕴藏于内，映出璀璨奇光，灿烂自然，给人以细腻柔滑之感。敦厚之中不失灵巧精致，是为书房陈设雅器，足底刻有字体，字体遒劲，婉丽端雅，与炉色等旧，为明早期作品，具有极高的艺术欣赏性和收藏研究价值。
 
Shenzhen wanshi art collection collected rare collections, wan shi art senior expert teacher bian fuchu identified as "early Ming qin book companion four-footed incense burner", this early Ming qin book companion four-footed incense burner, high: 9cm, weight: 995g. Open, oblate abdomen, with double centipedes above and four small feet below. The furnace body is regular in shape and thick in texture. Excellent production, access to the caodian, good casting. The color of the skin is calm and vigorous. The color and luster of the patina is dignified, the surface is bright and smooth, and the color and luster is contained in it, reflecting the bright and strange light, bright and natural, giving people a delicate and smooth feeling. Dunhou does not lose the dexterity delicate, is for the study display elegant ware, foot engraved font, the font is elegant, graceful, and furnace color and other old works, early Ming dynasty, with high artistic appreciation and collection research value.

 
明代国力强盛时期。这一时期因政治稳定，经济发展，制瓷业也得到了长足发展，在洪武瓷的基础上有了更大的突破和创新，形成了典雅秀美的风格，对后世产生了深远的影响。