This Italian brass censer has a multi-sided stand. Above the solid stand is an oval-shaped vessel with openwork surrounding the area in which incense is burned. The vessel somewhat resembles a building with four levels. The ground floor is punctuated with small circular holes. The next level has circular, rectangular, and quatrefoil (four leafed) openings. Above the quatrefoils are arches with short projections ending in stars. The top two levels are open except for their framework and they taper to a roof-like peak. There are circular pieces on the top and sides of the vessel through which a chain could be passed, allowing the censer to be swung.
Italian
Censer,
16th century
Brass
,
20.6 cm (8 1/8 in.)
Object details
Accession number
M27w51
Primary Creator
Italian
Full title
Censer
Creation Date
16th century
Object Case
Ecclesiastical Case
Provenance
Entered Isabella Stewart Gardner's collection by 1900.
Dimensions
20.6 cm (8 1/8 in.)
Display Media
Brass
Web Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.
Permanent Gallery Location
Long Gallery
Bibliography
Gilbert Wendel Longstreet and Morris Carter. General Catalogue (Boston, 1935), p. 240.
Rights and reproductions
The use of images, text, and all other media found on this website is limited. Please review Rights and Reproductions for details.
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.