Censer
1600-1625 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A censer is used to burn incense, a mixture of gum arabic (resin and acacia tree) and fragrance. Incense has been used since ancient times to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to God. It is placed on hot charcoal in the bowl of the censer, the smoke billows outwards and upwards to perfume the whole church.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | silver |
| Brief description | Silver, Spanish, 1600-1625. |
| Physical description | Bowl of flattened urn shape on low stem with circular foot. It is decorated with gadrooning against a punched background. Three applied scrolls cast in the form of caryatids support the rings for the attachment of the chains. Flattened, stepped cover surmounted by large, caster-shaped feature with a ring on top. Three rings on the edges for the suspension chains. The cover pierced with scrolls and ovals, with cylindrical section surmounted by a pierced dome. Four chains, three attached to rings on the circular, stepped lily and the other (from the top of the cover) passing through a hole in it. Both the lily and the cover chain ends in large rings. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Dr W.L. Hildburgh Bequest |
| Object history | Bought in San Sebastian, 1925 |
| Historical context | ex loan 1378 |
| Summary | A censer is used to burn incense, a mixture of gum arabic (resin and acacia tree) and fragrance. Incense has been used since ancient times to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to God. It is placed on hot charcoal in the bowl of the censer, the smoke billows outwards and upwards to perfume the whole church. |
| Bibliographic reference | Oman, Chares. The Golden Age of Hispanic Silver, 1400-1665. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1968. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.213-1956 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | December 14, 2005 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
