Ancient Near East, Holy Land, early Byzantine Empire, ca. 6th to 8th century CE. A striking thurible, a cast-bronze censer suspended from a trio of lengthy bronze chains. The hemispherical cup is tripodal in form with three petite legs on the bottom, gentle grooves coursing around the body, and a flared rim bearing three perforated suspension lugs that each hold the bottom link of a flexible chain. Each chain is constructed from several links that stretch between the lugs and a central bronze loop attached to the bottom of a broad crucifix, and a wire hook is attached to a perforation at the top of the cross. The flared rim once had a lid with petite perforations to allow the incense smell to escape, and the chain would allow the thurible to be swung during religious ceremonies. Size (cup): 2.8" W x 2.8" H (7.1 cm x 7.1 cm); (with chain, crucifix, and hook): 20" H (50.8 cm)
This item was exhibited at the Yale University Art Museum, reference number aaw16-169.
For additional examples of Byzantine censers, please see The Metropolitan Museum of art, accession number 1999.519.10 as well as The British Museum, museum number 1994,0610.13.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private C.H. collection, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, acquired in 2004; ex-Royal-Athena Galleries, New York, New York, USA; ex-Jean-Alain Mariaud de Serres collection, Paris, France; exhibited in the Yale University Art Museum, 2004-2015, reference number aaw16-169
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#156491
Condition
One wire hook within censer rim loops is not original to chains. Minor abrasions to censer body, with encrustations within basin, and slight bending to some chain links, crucifix, and suspension hook. Wonderful patina throughout.