A Byzantine Censer and the "Flaming Womb" of the Virgin

A small cast copper alloy object in The Metropolitan Museum of Art displays a figure in relief with hands upraised in an orant gesture. The figure is inscribed with the Greek abbreviation for "Mother of God," which was the standard epithet for the Virgin Mary in the icons of the Eastern Ro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMetropolitan Museum journal Vol. 58; no. 1; p. 75
Main Author Freeman, Evan
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Chicago University of Chicago Press 01.01.2023
Subjects
Byzantine civilization
Copper
Historic artifacts
Iconography
Mary (Virgin Mary)
Medieval period
Metalsmithing
Religious art
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Summary:A small cast copper alloy object in The Metropolitan Museum of Art displays a figure in relief with hands upraised in an orant gesture. The figure is inscribed with the Greek abbreviation for "Mother of God," which was the standard epithet for the Virgin Mary in the icons of the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire. The object was originally thought to be the handle of a liturgical cup, but it has recently been identified as the handle of a Byzantine censer. Comparisons with similar censers and depictions of katzia enable us to propose a reconstruction of the censer's original form and functions. The censer would have juxtaposed burning coals with the icon of the Virgin to evoke metaphors of the Virgin's childbearing as fire. The use of incense was well established in Byzantium, and censers were commonly made of silver or copper alloy. The decoration on the censers often featured religious iconography, and the juxtaposition of the icon of the Virgin with the incense bowl would have evoked rich meanings related to the Virgin's role in the incarnation of Christ.
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ISSN:0077-8958
2169-3072
DOI:10.1086/728878