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. View Short DescriptionA 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. 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
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