Incense burner

Object Details

• Description

  A globular incense burner, made in two hemispheres, one fitted with a fire-pot hung in gimbals. Surface pierced with small holes. Decoration engraved and inlaid with silver.

• Provenance

  ?-no later than 1935

  Likely Arnold Seligmann (1870-1935), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  By 1939

  R. Stora, New York, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  From 1939

  National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, purchased from R. Stora, New York [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See object file for copy of photograph (from negative) for the object, C-48 “Aragian [sic.] silver handwarmer (AR. Seligmann) Box.” Date unknown. Raphael Stora Negative Collection, vol. 4, no. 017. Cloisters Library and Archives, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York.

  The notation for “AR. Seligmann” indicates that Stora likely acquired the object from Arnold Seligmann & Cie, or from Arnold Seligmann’s personal collection. June 4-5, 1935 there was significant sale of Seligmann’s collection at Galerie Jean Charpentier, Paris, France, “Tableaux anciens, tableaux modernes, sculptures modernes, très belles estampes anciennes, objets antiques, gothiques et de la Renaissance, objets d'art et d'ameublement du XVIIIe siecle. de la collection de Madame et Monsieur Arnold Seligmann,” and Raphael and Maurice Stora were among the experts listed as assisting the auctioneers Henri Baudoin and Etienne Ader.

  Arnold Seligmann (1870-1935) was a French art and antiquities dealer from one of the most significant art-dealing family firms of the first half of the twentieth century, Jacques Seligmann & Cie. Arnold was the younger brother to Jacques Seligmann (1858-1923), and by 1912 he, Jacques, and their brother Simon were embroiled in a quarrel which resulted in a lawsuit. The lawsuit divided the company, and Arnold stayed at the family firm’s Place Vendôme location and reorganized as Arnold Seligmann & Cie. In 1921, Seligmann established a New York City branch, Arnold Seligmann, Rey & Co.

  [2] See object file for copy of Freer Gallery of Art vault record indicating the object was left by Raphaël Stora at the Freer for examination on October 17, 1939. See also notes 1 and 3.

  Raphaël Stora (1887/88-1963) was a connoisseur and art dealer who operated a gallery in Paris known as M. and R. Stora Gallery, with his brother, Maurice (1879-1950) from about 1931. By 1937, Raphaël had moved to New York and established Stora Art Galleries, Inc., and later R. Stora & Company. Both galleries specialized in the sale of sculpture and decorative arts, with an emphasis on Gothic and Renaissance objects.

  [3] See object file for copy of R. Stora invoice to the Freer Gallery of Art, dated November 30, 1939, and approved by the Secretary of the Smithsonian on November 22, 1939. This work is part of the Museum’s Freer Gallery of Art Collection.

  Research updated January 25, 2024

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Engaging the Senses (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Arts of the Islamic World (May 3, 1998 to January 3, 2016)

  Islamic Metalwork in the Freer Gallery of Art (September 27, 1985 to November 17, 1986)

  Art of the Mamluks (May 14, 1981 to May 25, 1982)

  Art of the Arab World (May 8, 1975 to August 20, 1977)

  Near Eastern Art (June 15, 1973 to May 7, 1975)

  Near Eastern Art—Paintings, Metalwork (August 18, 1967 to February 10, 1972)

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 6 and 7 (February 25, 1956 to April 10, 1962)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Manuscripts, Pottery, Metalwork, and Glass (April 12, 1955 to November 21, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Arts, 1947 (October 6, 1947 to February 25, 1956)

  Untitled Exhibition, Islamic Manuscripts (May 1, 1945 to September 25, 1947)

  Untitled Exhibition, Persian and Near Eastern Art (May 5, 1933 to September 24, 1947)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Arnold Seligman (1870 - 1935)

  Raphael Stora (1887-1963)

• Origin

  Egypt or Syria

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Tool and Equipment

• On View

  Freer Gallery 03: Engaging the Senses

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1300s

• Name

  Seligman, Arnold, Stora, Raphael

• Place

  Egypt

• Topic

  Art, Inlay (process), Mamluk period (1250 - 1517), Incense, Arts of the Islamic World, Chasing, Spinning (metalworking), Piercing

• Culture

  Muslims, Syrians

• Object Type

  Tools and equipment

• On View

  Yes