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Spherical incense burner
Vienna, Austria
Kunsthistorisches Museum
About Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Hegira 8th century or second half of the 9th century / AD 14th century or 2nd half of the 15th century
KK_5797
Bronze
Height: 15.2cm
Mamluk (Egypt or Syria)
Egypt?
Incense burners shaped like hollow metal spheres were popular throughout the mediaeval Islamic world. The movable spheres contain a contraption to keep the small containers for both charcoal and aromatic in a horizontal position. These spheres were used not only to burn incense but also ambergris and sandalwood. The medallion of this incense burner features an emblem denoting the rank of a scribe at the court of a Mamluk sultan. The elaborate ornamental decoration includes an integrated inscription.
Arthistorical and historical analysis, archival and inventory research
From the Kunstkammer of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm
Listed in the AD 1659 inventory of Leopold Wilhelm
Leitner-Böchzelt, Susanne and Pfaffenbichler, Matthias (eds), Die Welt des Orients. Kunst und Kultur des Islam, Leoben: Stadtgemeinde Leoben, 2006.
"Spherical incense burner" in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;at;Mus22;37;en
Copyedited by: Liz Cooper
MWNF Working Number: AT2 37
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