Incense burner (ud-suz)
Incense Burner
1000-1100 (cast)
1000-1100 (cast)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A low cylindrical vessel topped by a dome-shaped cover. The cover has a low incurving rim at the bottom which supports a bulbous dome. The finial of the cover is made from a knop shaped like a flattened five-petalled flower, an early type in Khorasan.
The cylinder has a low slanting base that is matched by an everted lip also rising at a low slant.
Decoration on the walls of the well consists of a double-banded guilloche with deep central grooves which is framed by two narrow fillets with regular vertical hatching.
Remaining decoration on the dome indicates an epigraphic frieze running over the groove and incised fillets that follow the incurving base. The main pattern is that of six pierced pentagonal facets that come down from the finial and imbricate with pentagonal facets that rise up from the drum of the dome.
A plain hinge attaches the cover to the well.
On the underside there is roundel depicting a bird in profile framed by a circular band of incurving rays enclosed by two plain fillets.
The cylinder has a low slanting base that is matched by an everted lip also rising at a low slant.
Decoration on the walls of the well consists of a double-banded guilloche with deep central grooves which is framed by two narrow fillets with regular vertical hatching.
Remaining decoration on the dome indicates an epigraphic frieze running over the groove and incised fillets that follow the incurving base. The main pattern is that of six pierced pentagonal facets that come down from the finial and imbricate with pentagonal facets that rise up from the drum of the dome.
A plain hinge attaches the cover to the well.
On the underside there is roundel depicting a bird in profile framed by a circular band of incurving rays enclosed by two plain fillets.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Incense burner (ud-suz) (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Cast bronze. Engraved decoration partly inlaid. |
| Brief description | Incense burner with dome-shaped cover with engraved and inlaid decoration. |
| Physical description | A low cylindrical vessel topped by a dome-shaped cover. The cover has a low incurving rim at the bottom which supports a bulbous dome. The finial of the cover is made from a knop shaped like a flattened five-petalled flower, an early type in Khorasan. The cylinder has a low slanting base that is matched by an everted lip also rising at a low slant. Decoration on the walls of the well consists of a double-banded guilloche with deep central grooves which is framed by two narrow fillets with regular vertical hatching. Remaining decoration on the dome indicates an epigraphic frieze running over the groove and incised fillets that follow the incurving base. The main pattern is that of six pierced pentagonal facets that come down from the finial and imbricate with pentagonal facets that rise up from the drum of the dome. A plain hinge attaches the cover to the well. On the underside there is roundel depicting a bird in profile framed by a circular band of incurving rays enclosed by two plain fillets. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Originally part of the collection of Captain H.W. Murray. Purchased from Messrs Bluett & Sons, 48 Davies Street, London W1 on 17th October 1927. Historical significance: A larger but comparable piece was preserved in a private collection in Afghan Khorasan, also dating from the 10th or early 11th century at the time of M.C:1982. The bird motif is a symbol of light. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Bibliographic reference | Melikian-Chirvani, A.S.Islamic Metalwork from the Iranian World,London:HMSO, 1982. The First Four Centuries, p49-50. ISBN 0 11 290252 9 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.862-1927 |
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| Record created | February 19, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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