Censer, bronze, with traces of champlevé enamel, France, Limoges, ca. 1200-50

The censer is composed of two hemispherical parts: the cup, decorated with intersecting floral scroll-work and enamelled, and the lid, decorated with keyholes-shaped openings and an open-work medallions, each with a fantastic creature. The censer rests on an un-worked conical base which does not match with the censer in style. Chains are attached to the censer on three sides.

Bought from Mr Charles Fairfax Murray in 1889 with another ten objects (no. 543 to 552 - 1889, 1507) for a total of £150.

Historical significance: In the 11th and 12th centuries censers often had spherical and architectural forms. By the 13th century these architectural forms were simplified, like this censer or a comparable censer in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Both objects have a red, light blue, green and yellow champlevé enamelwork from Limoges (France). Unfortunately, the state of conservation for such early censer examples is often very poor, due to the swinging, friction and repeated heating to which they were subjected.

A censer is used to burn incense, a mixture of gum arabic (resin from an 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, and as the censer is swung to and fro, the smoke billows outwards and upwards to perfume the whole church.

Ritual cleansing and anointing play a crucial part in Christian worship, as they do in other religions. Water, salt, incense and oils are used in ceremonies such as baptism and confirmation, and in the blessing of individuals and of sacred objects like altars and bells.
(SSSG Label text)

Medieval theology attached a high symbolic importance to censers. In the 9th century Amalarius of Metz (a liturgical writer) considered that the censer is the body of Christ, in which is the fire of the Holy Sprit and that the fragance represented the good works proceeding from Christ. In the 13th century William Durandus, bishop of Mende wrote that the incense itself was an emblem of prayer and the censer was a metaphor for the Body of Christ.

A censer is used to burn incense. 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, and as the censer is swung to and fro, the smoke billows outwards and upwards to perfume the whole church.

Medieval theologians attached a high symbolic importance to censers. In the 9th century Amalarius of Metz (a liturgical writer) considered that the censer is the body of Christ, the burning incense inside it is the Holy Sprit and the fragrance represents the good works of Christ.

542-1889