Censer
Unknown Artist
second half 18th century
Medium
Silver gilt
Dimensions
H. 2 in. (5.1 cm.); H. (with chains) ca. 8 in. (20.3 cm.)
Classification
Crèche
Culture
Italian, Naples
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Loretta Hines Howard, 1964
Accession Number
64.164.140
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, this exquisite silver gilt censer hails from Naples, Italy, in the second half of the18th century. Standing just 2 inches tall (or about 8 inches with its chains), this delicate incense burner exemplifies the opulent craftsmanship of the Neapolitan Baroque tradition. Its gleaming silver, gilded with a thin layer of gold, would have caught the light during use, releasing fragrant incense smoke through intricate perforations—a sensory delight in both sight and smell. Classified within the museum's renowned crèch...