Incense Burner

12th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 453

Incense was widely used in the medieval Islamic world. At receptions and special events, servants would waft the guests with the aromatic smoke emanating from the openwork of the incense burner and sprinkle them with drops of scented water. This bird‑shaped incense burner represents a class of metalwork that would have been sold at market. Birds figure prominently in the decorative repertoire of the Seljuq period, and were probably associated with good fortune.

Artwork Details

Title: Incense Burner
Date: 12th century
Geography: Attributed to Iran
Medium: Brass; cast, pierced, chased, engraved
Dimensions: H. 6 15/16 in. (17.6 cm)
L. 5 3/16 in. (13.2 cm)
W. 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm)
Classification: Metal
Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1972
Object Number: 1972.87
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

In the same gallery

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Incense Burner of Amir Saif al-Dunya wa’l-Din ibn Muhammad al-Mawardi, Ja`far ibn Muhammad ibn `Ali, Bronze; cast, engraved, chased, pierced — Incense Burner of Amir Saif al-Dunya wa’l-Din ibn Muhammad al-Mawardi
Ja`far ibn Muhammad ibn `Ali
dated 577 AH/1181–82 CE

Ewer, Brass; raised, repoussé, inlaid with silver and a black compound — Ewer
ca. 1180–1210

Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript, Ink, gold, and watercolor on paper — Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript
dated 531 AH/1137 CE

Folio from a Mu'nis al-ahrar fi daqa'iq al-ash'ar (The Free Man's Companion to the Subtleties of Poems) of Jajarmi, Muhammad ibn Badr al-Din Jajarmi Iranian, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper — Folio from a Mu'nis al-ahrar fi daqa'iq al-ash'ar (The Free Man's Companion to the Subtleties of Poems) of Jajarmi
Muhammad ibn Badr al-Din Jajarmi
dated 741 AH/1340–41 CE

Incense Burner, Brass; cast, pierced, chased — Incense Burner
12th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.