Censer

ca. 1200

On View

European: Medieval, Level 2, Central Wing

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Markings

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Provenance

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Exhibition History

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Published References

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Catalogue Raisonné

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Credit Line for Reproduction

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About the Artwork

The form of this censer (swinging incense burner) resembles the Scandinavian architecture of its time. Tiered gables and a tall, pointed roof rise toward a cross-shaped pinnacle, recalling buildings like the famous wooden church built in Borgund, Norway around 1200. On the censer’s sides, angelic figures protectively spread their wings above small human forms.
In medieval Christian liturgy, plumes of smoke rising from burning incense symbolized prayers ascending to heaven. Both functional and meaningful, this example would have emitted a richly spiced scent, while representing the collective devotions of worshippers and the church where it was used.

Title Censer

Artwork Date ca. 1200

Artist ----------

Life Dates ----------

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. Scandinavian

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. ----------

Medium Bronze

Dimensions Overall: 10 × 4 1/2 × 4 1/2 inches (25.4 × 11.4 × 11.4 cm) Overall (height suspended from chain): 12 1/2 inches (31.8 cm)

Classification Metalwork

Department European Sculpture and Dec Arts

Credit Gift of Abris Silberman

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 43.472

Markings

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Provenance

Hans Graf Wilczek (Vienna, Austria);
Abris Silberman;
1943-present, gift to the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

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Exhibition History

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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

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Published References

Songs of Glory. Exh. cat., Oklahoma Museum of Art. Oklahoma City, 1985, no. 45, pp. 158-159 (ill.).

Westerman-Angerhausen, H. Rauchfasser [=Bronzegeräte des Mittelalters, vol. V]. Berlin, 19xx.

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Scandinavian, Censer, ca. 1200, bronze. Detroit Institute of Arts, Gift of Abris Silberman, 43.472.

No Available Image

Orphrey Fragment

Spanish

c. 1500

No Available Image

Orphrey Fragment

Spanish

c. 1500

No Available Image

Orphrey Fragment

Spanish

c. 1500

The Burning of Troy

Fontana Workshop

between 1570 and 1574

Ewer

Antoine LeBrun

between 1738 and 1739

Basin

Antoine LeBrun

between 1738 and 1739

Cosmetic Pot

Antoine LeBrun

between 1738 and 1739

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We regularly update our object record as new research and findings emerge, and we welcome your feedback for correction or improvement.

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Censer

About the Artwork

Markings

Provenance

Exhibition History

Published References

Catalogue Raisoneé

Credit Line for Reproduction

Related Works

Orphrey Fragment

Orphrey Fragment

Orphrey Fragment

The Burning of Troy

Ewer

Basin

Cosmetic Pot

Feedback