Censer
ca. 1190-1210 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Censers of this period fall into two distinct categories - pierced spheres like this example, and those that are more architectural in form, becoming increasingly elaborate. There are around 20 surviving censers similar in shape to this example and with similar decoration. The vine scroll decoration is produced by using moulds that are re-used across the surviving group.
The vine scroll is a standard Romanesque stylistic feature, appearing in other artforms as well as metalwork (eg the tympanum of the west doorway of the Baptistery at Parma Cathedral, commissioned in 1196).
Blocks of incense were burnt inside the censer, and the scented smoke came out via the piercings down each decorated band. The censer would be swung during the holiest parts of the Mass.
The vine scroll is a standard Romanesque stylistic feature, appearing in other artforms as well as metalwork (eg the tympanum of the west doorway of the Baptistery at Parma Cathedral, commissioned in 1196).
Blocks of incense were burnt inside the censer, and the scented smoke came out via the piercings down each decorated band. The censer would be swung during the holiest parts of the Mass.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze, cast |
| Brief description | copper alloy, Italy, 1190-1210. |
| Physical description | The censer is sphere-shaped, and sits on a plain circular foot. It is hinged at the widest part, and opens up into two halves horizonatally. Bands of strapwork decoration, with vine scrolls with schematic acanthus leaves and beaded edges, run from the top to bottom - the areas between the vine scrolls and the beaded edges on the upper half are pierced. The areas between the bands of strapwork are facetted plainly. The sphere is topped by a small round building with a domed roof. Modern chains run through projecting bronze loops on the sides of the sphere, and the apex of the dome, up to a bell-shaped 'lily'. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Object history | According to Tonnochy 1937, this censer was bought in Florence. |
| Historical context | Censers of this period were of two types - pierced spheres like this example, and those that are more architectural in form, becoming increasingly elaborate. There are around 20 surviving censers similar in shape to this example and with similar decoration. The vine scroll decoration is produced by using moulds that are re-used across the surviving group. Over the group there are six discernible variants in decoration (oral communication from Hiltrud Westermann-Anghausen of the Schnütgen Museum, Cologne). The vine scroll is a standard Romanesque stylistic feature, appearing in other artforms as well as metalwork (eg the tympanum of the west doorway of the Baptistery at Parma Cathedral, commissioned in 1196). |
| Summary | Censers of this period fall into two distinct categories - pierced spheres like this example, and those that are more architectural in form, becoming increasingly elaborate. There are around 20 surviving censers similar in shape to this example and with similar decoration. The vine scroll decoration is produced by using moulds that are re-used across the surviving group. The vine scroll is a standard Romanesque stylistic feature, appearing in other artforms as well as metalwork (eg the tympanum of the west doorway of the Baptistery at Parma Cathedral, commissioned in 1196). Blocks of incense were burnt inside the censer, and the scented smoke came out via the piercings down each decorated band. The censer would be swung during the holiest parts of the Mass. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 5418-1859 |
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| Record created | November 29, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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