Spätrömisch / Frühbyzantinisch Bronze Räuchergefäß (ohne Ketten) (Ohne Mindestpreis)

ITEM: Incense burner (without chains)
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Late Roman / Byzantine
PERIOD: 4th - 5th Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 52 mm x 95 mm diameter
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex Austrian private collection, acquired before 1990s

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license

If you bid outside the european union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks.

Late Roman incense burners are remarkable artifacts that reflect the spiritual and ritual practices of the declining Roman Empire. Typically crafted from bronze, pottery, or occasionally silver, these burners were designed to hold and burn fragrant resins, such as frankincense and myrrh, which were integral to religious and domestic rituals. As the Roman Empire increasingly embraced Christianity during the 4th and 5th centuries CE, incense burning became a common feature in Christian worship, though it was also used in domestic contexts for its pleasant aroma and purifying properties. These objects often had lids with perforated designs that allowed the aromatic smoke to waft gently, creating an atmosphere conducive to meditation and prayer.

The design of late Roman incense burners varied widely, influenced by a blend of pagan, Christian, and regional aesthetics. Some burners took the form of small, tripod-mounted bowls or basins, featuring intricately molded or cast decorative patterns, such as vines, animals, or crosses. Others were modeled after classical forms but adapted to accommodate the growing symbolism of Christian iconography, featuring motifs like fish, doves, or chi-rho symbols. This transition in design reflects the transformation of Roman society as it moved away from traditional pagan practices, absorbing and reshaping earlier motifs within a Christianized framework. The materials used also varied according to social status and wealth, with wealthier households or religious establishments likely possessing elaborate bronze or silver pieces, while simpler, pottery-based burners would have been more common among the general populace.