Name of Object:

Incense burner

Location:

London, England, United Kingdom

Holding Museum:

The British Museum

 About The British Museum, London

Date of Object:

Hegira 675–7 / AD 1277–9

Museum Inventory Number:

1878.12-30.682

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Brass pierced and engraved and inlaid with silver.

Dimensions:

Diameter 18.4 cm

Period / Dynasty:

Mamluk

Provenance:

Syria.

Description:

A brass globular incense burner composed of identical hemispheres joined by a bayonet fitting, and with pierced holes through which the fumes from burning incense could escape. Gimbals inside the burner, cradle a small bowl which would remain in an upright position even when the sphere is rolled, a mechanism also known as ‘Cardan Suspension’. Spherical in shape this object resembles a hand warmer, but due to its large size and the loop at the apex, it was probably designed to be suspended from the ceiling or to hang from a chain and be swung to disseminate the incense.
Silver inlaid decoration, divided into four concentric circles, covers the surface. The rim of each hemisphere has an inscription band of silver inlay against arabesques. Above this row are five pierced medallions each containing a double-headed eagle, alternating with roundels filled with geometric motifs in a background of arabesque scrolls. At both ends of the sphere is another inscription band with a pierced medallion at the apex, containing a design composed of double-headed eagles and lion-headed masks.
The symbol of the double-headed eagle was a popular motif used on blazons by several Mamluk sultans. However, here it seems to be a decorative motif rather than a heraldic emblem. Towards the end of the AH 7th / AD 13th century the figurative motifs of Ayyubid metalwork were gradually replaced by titulature and heraldry according to the taste of Mamluk patrons. This object is a fine example of the growing popularity of inscribed titles on Mamluk decorative objects.
This object was made for Badr al-Din Baysari who is mentioned in the inscription at the apex. Baysari was one of the most prominent of the amirs in the early Mamluk period, as confirmed by the phrase ‘al-maqarr al-ali’ (‘the High Excellency’).

View Short Description

A large spherical brass incense burner with silver inlaid decoration. Medallions at either end show one of the Mamluk heraldic emblems, a double-headed eagle. This burner is inscribed with the name Badr al-Din Baysari who was a prominent amir in the early Mamluk period.

Original Owner:

Badr al-Din Baysari

How date and origin were established:

This object was made for Badr al-Din Baysari who is mentioned in the inscription at the apex of this lamp, also mentioned are the regnal titles of two of his Mamluk masters: al-Zahiri (officer of Sultan Baybars from 658–75 / 1260–77) and al-Sa’idi (officer of Sultan Baraka Khan from 675–7 / 1277–9). Al-Sa’idi – is a sign of allegiance to Sultan al-Malik al-Sa’id Baraka Khan (r. 675–7 / 1277-9), which indicates that the incense burner was probably produced during his reign.

How Object was obtained:

Bequeathed to the British Museum by John Henderson in 1878.

How provenance was established:

This incense burner was made for Badr al-Din Baysari, a confidante of Sultan Baybars and one of the most important Syrian amirs. Originally in the service of the last Ayyubid Sultan, Baysari was then employed by the Mamluks after the Ayyubids were overthrown. This object was, therefore, probably made in Syria where Baysari was based. Moreover, there was an active patronage of inlaid metalwork in the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods in Syria.

Selected bibliography:

The Arts of Islam, exhibition catalogue, London, 1976, cat. no. 210.
Atil, E., Renaissance of Islam: Art of the Mamluks, Washington D.C., 1981, p.58–9.
Barrett, D., Islamic Metalwork in the British Museum, London, 1949, plate no. 22.
Ward, R., Islamic Metalwork, London, 1993, pp.110–1, fig. 87.

Citation of this web page:

Emily Shovelton "Incense burner" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;uk;Mus01;27;en

Prepared by: Emily Shovelton
Copyedited by: Mandi Gomez


MWNF Working Number: UK1 32