Lot 263 A RASULID LACQUERED WOOD INCENSE BURNER, SOUTH ARABIA, 15TH CENTURY
A rare and intricately carved incense burner, made from wood and adorned with delicate polychrome lacquering, the burner features an octagonal body crowned with a domed openwork cover. Each panel is meticulously pierced and decorated with stylized Arabic calligraphy in thuluth script, framed by floral motifs rendered in vibrant tones of red, green, blue, and gold.
The hinged door reveals the hollow interior where incense would have been placed, allowing fragrant smoke to diffuse through the elaborate openwork. Despite signs of age and wear—including some losses to the wood and pigment—the piece remains a striking example of late medieval Islamic devotional and domestic artistry, reflecting both functional and spiritual purpose.
32 by 14 cm.
Inscriptions:
Dome: part of v.13 from surah al-Saff.
Body: poems