Censer - Cast brass - Coptic incense burner

Late 18th- or early 19th-century cast Coptic brass incense burner from Ethiopia. It dates from the period 1750-1850 and was made in Africa. The vessel is The vessel is decorated with openwork motifs. For ecclesiastical use in the Coptic church.

Material:
- brass.

Dimensions:
- length with chains: 84.5 cm.
- height without chains: 30 cm.
- diameter: 12 cm.

Condition:
- Fair, The incense burner has been well used. In particular, the chains have some defects and have been repaired many times. The handle has also been repaired. The top where a cross sat is broken off. By wrapping a brass surrounding construction around it, the handle still functions. The chain to which the lid hangs is attached to this handle repair with a small hook. (see photos)

Background:

Incense plays an important role within the Ethiopian church. It is used during church services and prayers and is seen as an offering to God. Small burning coals are placed in the basin of the incense burner, after which incense is added. The incense burner is swung rhythmically back and forth on long chains during religious services andprocessions to distribute the incense. The ash from the incense burner is considered holy, and it is believed that this has the power to heal the sick.

The Ma’étant (Geez: 07919, 'incense burner; Amh.: 7019, maiant, 3, maiäñña; or, in current usage, f, sena [Geez: ป, sénhah], 'incense burner') in the Ethiopian Orthodox (Tewahedo) liturgy is a round metal vessel designed to contain glowing charcoal on which incense is burned. The vessel hangs from four chains, all attached to the handle, by which it is swung around. It has a foot and is provided with a lid that slides over the chains. To control the smoke, the lid is hung on an extra chain with a cross at the end; The cross of this chain, which passes through the shaft of the handle, forms the top of the entire instrument. Small bells (called šahura, bilbilla) are often attached to the chains (twelve bells may be enough as a reference to the twelve apostles, whose voices reach to the end of the world [Psalm 18(19):4-5, sung as mésbak on an apostle feast day]).
The Ma’ét is used in almost every service in Ethiopian Orthodox church tradition. Although deacons and even other people may handle it for practical purposes, only priests may hold it by the handle and perform incensing. A folk saying, common among clergy, is that the shape of the Ma’étant represents the body of Mary, carried to the tomb by the apostles, since the deacons who would normally have performed this task were only appointed later (interview with Alämnäw Azzänä, 24 May 2005).
Typology
The Ethiopian Orthodox liturgy (notably the hymn Anti wéyetu ma Yéiänt zäwärq... You are the Golden Incense Vessel Wéddase Maryam, 6th stanza of Sunday, VelMe I, 91; II, 296, Mäsḥafä qéddase 1981/82, chk. III, nos. 122 [Daoud 1954:41, nos. 122] and the Zé wéýetu gize..., 'This is the time...', Mäsḥafä qéddase 1981/82, chk. III, nos. 160-72 [Daoud 1954:48v., nos. 160-72]) and Ethiopian traditional scholars (via the ſérYatä betä kréstiyan) attach a spiritual meaning to every element of the Ma’etant during use: the golden Ma'ét. änt (cf. Heb 9:4) represents the figure of Saint Mary, who gave the Word of God his humanity. The glowing coal in the Ma'ét. änt is the burning Divine Word of God in Mary’s womb; it is likened to the glowing coal the angel used to purify Isaiah’s lips (Isa 6:6), and the chalice itself is compared to the tongs he used. The incense is the scent of Jesus Christ’s Incarnation and his gracious offering. The pan and the three chains symbolize the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God; the handle represents the fullness of the Godhead; the 24 bells represent either the 24 Heavenly Priests (Rev 5:8), or the voices of the angels at the foot of the four living creatures. The smoke symbolizes the scent of God or the scent of the angels.

This sculptural bronze object is a late 18th- or early 19th-century liturgical incense burner, or incense vessel, that was used for guided prayers and ritual ceremonies within the Coptic Orthodox Church. The incense burner was blessed for use by the priest and then lit with incense, such as resin incense, and carried through the church, accompanied by prayers and the reading of Scripture.

The incense burner consists of a square incense vessel with a domed lid featuring a pattern of overlapping circles and a large cross on top. The lid can be lifted to reveal a deep incense burner in which burning embers and incense grains were placed. The incense burner sits on a perforated foot and hangs from four wire chains attached to a handle.

An incense burner is used to burn incense, a mixture of Arabic gum (resin from an acacia tree) and fragrances. Incense has been used since antiquity to symbolize the prayers of the faithful rising to God. It is placed on hot charcoal in the bowl of the incense burner and as the incense burner is swung on its chains, the smoke rises and disperses throughout the church.

This incense burner comes from an Ethiopian Orthodox church, and the bells symbolize the elders surrounding God in the Book of Revelation.

The Ethiopian church was part of the Coptic Church until 1959, when it became fully independent.

An incense burner (in Latin Turibulum or Thuribulum) is a vessel in which incense is burned.
Typically, it consists of a dish with a lid. Chains are attached to the dish, allowing the incense burner to be carried around during services or hung from a stand. An additional chain is attached to the lid. With this chain, the lid can be raised to replenish incense. This is done by placing incense grains on glowing coals.

The altar server who carries the incense burner is the thuriferarius, thuriferar, or incense bearer.