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Incense burner
Censer
Incense burner
Egyptian or Syrian
Early Byzantine
5th–6th century
Object Place: Middle East, Byzantine
Medium/Technique
Leaded Bronze (75.3% copper, 7.6% tin, .6% zinc, 16.5% lead)
Dimensions
18 x 11 cm (7 1/16 x 4 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Charles Bain Hoyt
Accession Number50.2303a-b
CollectionsEurope, Asia, Africa and Oceania, Ancient Egypt, Nubia and the Near East
ClassificationsMetalwork
DescriptionCenser in two pieces. Cast, chased, punched, and soldered. The lower part, in the shape of a chalice with a flared base and small knop between the shaft and bowl, has three soldered loops (two for the hinge and one for the clasp). A series of chased parallel lines decorate the bowl and base. The dome-shaped lid has a knob at the top pierced with a hole for a chain, a soldered loop for the hinge, and a small hole for the missing latch. Openwork rinceaux with grape leaves and long-tailed birds nibbling at bunches of grapes fills the central area of the lid. Above are two chased bands and the openwork inscription; below is a band of punched circles.
Provenance1950, bequest of Charles Bain Hoyt (b. 1889 - d. 1949), Boston, MA, to the MFA. (Accession Date: May 11, 1950)