The elongated Incense Burner with a globular body over a large domed splayed foot, topped by a narrow- waisted neck terminating in an everted splayed rim. The rim decorated with an incised row of Kufic script, the shoulder featuring a tall register of circular rosettes intersperced by openworked foliage motis. The main globular body with three horizontal rows of sunken bosses, the central register featuring roundels with an incised knot motif. The splayed foot again with a row of Kufic script.
The unusual shape of this vessel vaguely reminds contemporary ceramic baluster vases from China. The Central Asian rosette motif together with the occurrence of the endless knot would suggest a provenance further to the east of Iran, possibly in Transoxiana. The openwork design could also suggest its use as incense burner, as similar vessels were indeed used further to the East in China, for ceremonial purposes. This cast quarternary bronze (high tin copper alloy) bauster vase, in its simple yet refined decorative composure would seem to indicate a 12th century dating, possibly suggesting Transoxiana, rather than Iran, as its place of manufacture. - (LO.880)