A rare and important Ottoman tombak incense burner (Buhurdan), Turkey, late 16th/17th Century

of baluster form, the ovoid body with a domed hinged openwork cover with foliate designs, surmounted by a palmette finial, supported on a circular tray with three feet and flowerhead terminals on the tray, incised with arabesques containing floral stems

In general good condition, some abrasions and light scratches to underside of tray, legs possibly later replaced, one with rubber ring, tray possibly later re-hinged, incense holder slightly bent, rubbing on surface of tray consistent with age, as viewed.
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This beautiful incense burner, which features masterful openwork decoration, comprises a flat tray with a coal-box designed as an inverted conical chalice stem. The bowl was worked separately and riveted to it, and the details enhanced with fine zig-zag and cross motifs. A related example is in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, Istanbul, acc. no.M.12 (Istanbul 2002, p.321).

Such tombak incense burners, with trays elevated on a tripod foot, appear from the late sixteenth through to the eighteenth century. Two similar incense burners are in the Khalili collection (illustrated in: Rogers 1995, p.178) and a further example is in the Düsseldorf Kunstmuseum (inv. No. KM10554).