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CENSER

Creator(s): Unknown (Goldsmith)

On view in: Russian Sacred Arts Gallery


About this object

The body splits in the middle. Both the upper and lower parts, as well as the foot, have lobed panels with a repoussé and gilded foliage ornament alternated with plain silver ones. Each silver panel, both top and bottom, features an inscription in decorative script within a cartouche. An applied trefoil design forms the border of the top and bottom and covers the line where the dome and drum are attached to the censer's top.The finial is shaped like an onion dome. Alternate rows of scales are stippled for contrast. Three long chains attach the censer to a cap.

Object name:
CENSER
Made from:
Silver -- parcel gilt -- brass
Made in:
Iaroslav, Russia
Date made:
late 17th Century
Size:
26.7 cm (10 1/2 in.)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:
12.2.1-2
Class:
SILVER
Signature marks:
INSCRIPTION [On upper half]: "LETA 1000" "???" "DAL SIE KADILO" "V DOM PRSTYIIA" "ZHIVONACHALNYIIA" "TROITS I PRESTYIA" [On lower half] "BGDTSY V MOGILEVSKUIU" "PUSTYNIU STARYIIA" "RUSY" "SPASKOGO" "MONASTYRIA" "IGUMEN' IOSIF" "PO SVOEI DSHI" [On foot] "I PO SVOIKH RODITELEI" [On handpiece] "I SILA VYSHEGO" "?" "DKH' STYI" "NAD TEN'?" [Trans: "In 1681 Abbott Joseph of the Monastery of the Savior in Staraia Russa gave this censer to the House of the Lifegiving Trinity and the Holy Mother of God in the Mogilev Monastery in remembrance of his soul and of his parents."]
Credit line:
Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973