Perfume burner - Silverplated - Antique burner punches

IMPORTANT ANTIQUE AND ELEGANT TABLETOP INCENSE OR ESSENCE BURNER WITH CRYSTAL DOME, HANGING CHAINS SUPPORTED BY THREE SIDE SWANS

European manufacture, circa early 1900s — by
English manufacturer, London.

An elegant decorative art object in Sheffield silver-plated metal, of refined architectural design and richly ornamented with repoussé work, chasing, and engraving.

The piece stands out for its slender, monumental structure, set on a substantial molded polygonal base embellished with beaded borders, ornamental friezes, and panels finely decorated with foliate and arabesque motifs.
Three finely worked vertical supports, articulated with geometric bands and interlacing motifs, uphold the elaborate upper composition, giving the whole a particularly elegant formal balance.

The top is crowned by a richly engraved hemispherical dome, finished with an elegant pinnacle. The metal chains, hanging in sinuous lines between the supports, introduce a refined sense of movement and enhance the ceremonial, theatrical character of the object.

At the center of the structure is a pineapple-shaped ornamental element—a symbolic and decorative motif with a long tradition, interpreted here with striking classical flair. The wealth of detail, the succession of borders, and the interplay of lustrous surfaces, engraving, and relief testify to a decorative vision with strong visual impact.

The piece belongs to the historicist decorative arts, characterized by the revival and combination of classical, geometric, and Orientalizing motifs. Its architectural presence makes it particularly well suited to a collection of silverware and art metalwork, a formal classical interior, or a collection of luxurious decorative objects.

Hallmarks are visible stamped on the structure.
We can see five in total.

An object with considerable theatrical presence, in which the complexity of the structure, ornamental virtuosity, and wealth of detail come together to create a piece of significant collector interest.

Technical details

- Type: tabletop incense burner or thurible, with an upper crystal section.
- Material: silver-plated or silvered metal; to be verified through analysis and reading of the hallmarks.
- Decoration: engraving, chasing, raised ornamental motifs, and animal figures. Three little swans.
- Date: to be determined; possibly 19th-century historicist style, though early 20th-century manufacture is not confirmed.
- Manufacturer and provenance: presumed to be England.
Similar models were made with large crystal balls, crystal vases, or centerpiece planters.
Congratulations to the winner of this auction.