Description:

Lot 241. A PIERCED CAST BRASS SPHERICAL INCENSE BURNER, NORTH INDIA, 18TH–19TH CENTURY

This elegant spherical incense burner is a superb example of North Indian metalwork, dating from the late Mughal to early colonial period. Cast in brass and composed of two hemispherical halves joined by a hinged clasp, the vessel is intricately pierced and engraved with scrolling foliage and pairs of birds amidst flowering tendrils — motifs emblematic of paradise and renewal.

The precision of the openwork carving would have allowed fragrant smoke to diffuse gracefully when incense was placed inside, casting delicate shadow patterns through the floral tracery. The internal structure includes a rotating inner sphere, likely intended to suspend charcoal or aromatic substances safely within.

Such censers were used in both domestic and religious settings, reflecting the Indian appreciation for perfumed ambiance and ornamental craftsmanship.

Diameter: 13 cm

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November 7, 2025 1:00 PM GMT
London, United Kingdom

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