Brass Incense Burner

Description

Petite brass incense burners, perfect for perfuming a small space and similar to the medieval burners in design. 

The bowl is lipped so that the lid fits snugly onto the bowl and the lid is decorated with symetrical pierce work enabling an even dispersal of the incense fragrance.

We recommend that a bed of sand be placed into the bowl base for a charcoal tablet and/or incense to sit on before adding the loose/ solid incense, and the use of tongs to handle the lid and charcoal tablet when hot. 

Materials: Brass

Dimensions: 7.5 cm height (bowl + lid), 6.5 cm diameter.

Warnings;

Never leave burning incense unattended;
use tongs when handling hot charcoal tablets or the burner while the charcoal is still hot;
we recommend the sand will need to be refreshed at regular intervals – either washed or replaced;

From the ladies of the Medieval Still Room;

The secular and ecclesiastical use of incense began long before the medieval period and continues to this day. Dry loose incense powders are burned on charcoal tablets (seated in sand) in a small fireproof container such as a brazier. Powders are sprinkled onto the charcoal and the intense heat from the burning charcoal releases the fragrance. 

Incense was an important part of the medieval household in part due to the belief that beautiful smells created good health and indicated a healthy environment. The incense could be a single substance such as sandalwood or frankincense, but most often it was a blend of a number of botanical and resinous substances. This practice both bulked out precious incense powders such as frankincense and myrrh, and also enabled unique combinations of scents tailored to a customers requirements. Many scents were associated with healing properties, others as fumigants (both spiritual and for insects), and as a way of dissipating negative and enhancing positive emotions, releasing stress and alleviating pain.

A surprising number of extant texts have survived, describing not only the ingredients used, but also recipes, notes on best use, and where to source rare ingredients. Apothecary invoices, shipping manifests, published folios and home recipe books all enable us to recreate the some of the scents that were favoured during the medieval period.