ticketsMember | Make a donation

Pierced Globe

late 13th–early 14th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 454
Designed as an incense burner, this globe once hung from a chain. Inside the hinged body is a small cup, slung on three rings (gimbals) to stabilize the burning coal or incense in the suspended container. The inscription bands do not name the object’s owner, but repeat a string of epithets lauding him.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Pierced Globe
  • Date: late 13th–early 14th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Syria, Damascus
  • Medium: Brass; spun and turned, pierced, chased, inlaid with gold, silver, and black compound
  • Dimensions: H. 6 1/4 in. (15.9 cm)
    H. with chain. 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm)
    Diam. 6 1/4 in. (15.9 cm)
  • Classification: Metal
  • Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
  • Object Number: 17.190.2095a, b
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Incense Burner, Brass; cast with handle made of separately hammered sheet, pierced, inlaid with silver and gold
Incense Burner
late 13th–early 14th century
Astrolabe of ‘Umar ibn Yusuf ibn ‘Umar ibn ‘Ali ibn Rasul al-Muzaffari, ‘Umar ibn Yusuf ibn ‘Umar ibn ‘Ali ibn Rasul al-Muzaffari Yemini, Brass; cast and hammered, pierced, chased, inlaid with silver
Astrolabe of ‘Umar ibn Yusuf ibn ‘Umar ibn ‘Ali ibn Rasul al-Muzaffari
‘Umar ibn Yusuf ibn ‘Umar ibn ‘Ali ibn Rasul al-Muzaffari
dated 690 AH/1291 CE
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
Pyxis Depicting Standing Saints or Ecclesiastics and the Entry into Jerusalem with Christ Riding a Donkey, Brass; hammered, engraved, inlaid with silver
Pyxis Depicting Standing Saints or Ecclesiastics and the Entry into Jerusalem with Christ Riding a Donkey
mid-to late13th century

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

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.