Incense Burner. Iran, 11th-13th century. Bronze inlaid with copper.
Measuring almost 30 centimetres in height and cast in bronze, this bird-shaped object[1] once served as an incense burner (known as mabkhara or majmar in Arabic and ‘ud-suz in Persian). A bowl suspended from the bird’s stomach—concealed when the bird was set upright—could be filled with dry incense, which was then lit. Perfumed smoke would have dispersed through decorative holes pierced in the bird’s neck, stomach, wings, and tail. Close examination reveals that this bird’s tail in fact takes the shape of a miniature bird, creating a playful mirroring effect between the main body of the incense burner and its extremity. Along with its considerable size, the choice of bronze for this incense burner suggests it was used in a ceremonial or palatial context.
