Incense burner
T L British
Not on view
Scent was an important feature of grand European households in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Foul-smelling air was associated with the spread of disease, so scented waters, fresh flowers, pot-pourris, and perfume burners were used to improve the atmosphere. A perfume burner like this one emitted the smoke of a pastille made from ingredients like rosewater, myrtle, and orange, which burned gently over a charcoal fire.
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