- Provenance
- Provenance research underway.
- Description
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Brass incense burner; cylindrical body covered with semi-dome surmounted by rooster finial, rests on four feet; engraved and pierced with arabesques and calligraphy; traces of copper inlay.
The rooster finial does not belong to the piece; however, it is an authentic figurine and probably pre-dates the incense burner. The two loops for suspension on its head and neck also suggest a different function. Cylindrical incense burners with identical semi-domes generally have bird-shaped finials (at times peacocks) and rest on three feet; the Freer example has four legs, which is unusual.
The cylindrical body is divided into four panels, each defined by vertical strips executed in relief and decorated with strapwork. In the center of the panels are medallions; the two in front have floral arabesques while the remaining pair are adorned with geometric motifs. A larger medallion with geometric interlaces evolving from a six-pointed star appears on the base.
Traces of copper inlay are visible around the two quarter panels of the dome, the base of the finial and in the bands encircling the four medallions on the body.
- Inscription(s)
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1. (Esin Atil, 1977) The kufic inscription around the circular openings reads:
al-yumn v'al-bakarat v'al-surur v'al saadet v'al-salamat.
"Prosperity (good luck) and blessing and joy (pleasure) and happiness and safety (security)."
2. (Wheeler Thackston, Harvard University, Summer 1990) Inscription:
al-yumn wa'l-baraka wa'l-surur wa'l-sa`ada wa'l-salama.
"Felicity and blessing and happiness and health."
- Published References
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- Dr. Esin Atil, W. Thomas Chase, Paul Jett. Islamic Metalwork in the Freer Gallery of Art. Washington, 1985. cat. 12, pp. 92-94.
- Julia Murray. A Decade of Discovery: Selected Acquisitions 1970-1980. Exh. cat. Washington, 1979. cat. 90, p. 116.
- Collection Area(s)
- Arts of the Islamic World
- Web Resources
- Google Cultural Institute
- SI Usage Statement
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Usage Conditions Apply
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CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)
This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
Usage Conditions Apply
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
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International Image Interoperability Framework
FS-5329_07