censer
- Museum number
- Af1868,1001.14
- Description
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Censer; copper alloy. Cast in two parts; a square bodied container on pyramidal base and an arched, open work lid. Body of container, has a suspension ring on each corner and one centrally placed on three sides of the rim, one is missing. Three chains pass through the centrally placed rings to corresponding rings on the top of the lid securing it in place. One chain is missing. The chains, with multiple round bells are attached to a hollow, cast handle. A square patch on the top of the lid indicates a missing finial. The inner surface of censer is encrusted with burnt incense. Body of container has a Ge'ez inscription on one side.
- Dimensions
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Height: 21 centimetres (top of the lid)
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Height: 82 centimetres (with chains and handle extended)
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Width: 12.50 centimetres
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Depth: 12 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
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Incense plays a vital role within the Ethiopian Church, used in church services and prayers it is seen as an offering to God. Small lighted coals are placed in the chamber of the censer to which incense is added. The censer is rhythmically swung from its long chains to waft the incense during religious services and processions. Ash from the censer is believed to be imbued with power to heal the sick.
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Part of a collection of material taken from the fortress of Emperor Tewedros II (reigned 1855-1868) at Maqdala during the Abyssinian Campaign (1867-1868). Tewodros had sought to bring the whole of Ethiopia under his control through military campaigns. During these conquests, he took books, holy relics and manuscripts from churches throughout Ethiopia, and particularly from Gondar, with the intention of establishing Maqdala as a seat of learning and research. By 1868, the treasury and church store included hundreds of manuscripts and many fine examples of liturgical objects and art including textiles, paintings, and metal work.
The British Expedition to Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) 1867-1868 culminated in a military assault on Maqdala on 13 April 1868. Tewodros committed suicide, rather than be taken prisoner. Hundreds of his soldiers were killed and many thousands injured. The treasury, church and royal household were plundered by the British and Indian troops. Maqdala was destroyed by military order on 17 April 1868. Much of the plundered material was reassembled by an Army Prize Committee and sold at an auction of loot on the nearby Delanta Plain, 20 – 21 April 1868.
Richard Holmes participated in the Abyssinia Expedition as ‘archaeologist’ and official representative of the British Museum. He was one of the first people to enter Maqdala with the military force. He participated directly in the plundering. He purchased objects from soldiers and at the official sale of loot on behalf of the British Museum.
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See Collection File Af1868,1001.1-32
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Patch of corrosion and small hole to one side of container.
- Associated events
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Associated Event: Abyssinian Campaign 1867 - 1868
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Associated Event: Abyssinian Campaign 13 April 1868
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Acquisition notes
- May have been purchased at the sale of loot on the Delanta Plain 20-21 April 1868; may have been looted by Holmes from Maqdala on 13 April 1868. Holmes purchased one censer at the sale of loot, he did not describe it in detail: ‘1 brass censer. 8 Rupees.’ Holmes also took objects immediately after the British and Indian troops entered Maqdala. Most of these he was given permission by Sir Robert Napier (Commander in Chief of the Abyssinian Campaign) to keep, rather than hand over the Army Prize Committee for auction. In total, Holmes acquired three censers for the British Museum from Maqdala. See letter from R Holmes to J Winter Jones, 22nd April 1868 (British Museum Central Archive, Original Papers Volume 94, April to July 1868, no.5376) and 'List of articles purchased for the British Museum at the sale of the plunder of Magdala 20 and 21 April 1868', R. Holmes (British Museum Central Archive, Original Papers Volume 94, April to July 1868).
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1868,1001.14