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Censer
Northern Italian or Alps
Medieval
12th century–early 13th century
Object Place: Europe, Northern Italy or Alps
Medium/Technique
Metalwork; latten (83.1% copper, 8.1% tin, 7.4% zinc, 1.4% lead)
Dimensions
16.7 x 12.8 cm (6 9/16 x 5 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
H. E. Bolles Fund
Accession Number67.292a-b
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsMetalwork
Ecclesiastical ornaments
Ecclesiastical ornaments
DescriptionBowl with low flared foot and cover with pierced architectural decoration tapering to a pinnacle (chains are intended for a hole in the pinnacle and four semicircular loops on the cover and bipartite loops on the bowl). Cast and chased. Above a band of parallel vertical lines on the lower part of the cover there is, on each of the four sides, a debased gable marked by bands of parallel diagonal lines. Beneath the gable are two rectangular openings flanking a projecting apse with three mushroom-shaped openings and a roof with a checkerboard pattern indicating tiles. The form of this decoration is mirrored on the bowl except for the tiling and openings, which are confined to a series of four narrow slits on each side. Over the spandrels of the cover's lower gables is a second tier of architectural decoration consisting of four additional apses with three mushroom-shaped openings and tiled roofs, flanked by single rectangular openings and surmounted by gables. The shape of this tier is mirrored in the bowl as well. The cover terminates in four more gables, on axis with those of the lower tier, from which emanate four bands forming a pinnacle. Knobs project from the tips of the gables and apses.
Provenance1966, Ildebrando Bossi, Genoa; 1967, sold by Bossi to the MFA. (Accession Date: March 8, 1967)