Incense Burner

Incense Burner

Public Domain

Incense Burner
CulturePersian
Titles
  • Incense Burner
Date12th century
MediumBronze; cast, engraved, and pierced
Dimensions11 7/8 × 12 × 4 3/4 in. (30.2 × 30.5 × 12.1 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Honorable and Mrs. Hushang Ansary, the Brown Foundation Accessions Endowment, and the Alice Pratt Brown Museum Fund
Object number2007.1301
Current Location
The Caroline Wiess Law Building
113 Islamic Art Gallery
Exposé

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Department
Art of the Islamic Worlds
Object Type
DescriptionThis feline incense burner is among the most successful examples of Iranian metalwork from the Seljuq period, which was well-known for the production of zoomorphic incense burners. It is designed so that fragrant smoke can pass through the pierce-work decoration. The head is hinged, allowing for easy replenishment of aromatic incense and coal inside the body. The sculptural quality reflects the Islamic world’s appreciation of figural motifs, which were used creatively in the secular sphere.
Provenance Research Ongoing

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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