Incense burner

Object Details

• Description

  Lion with right foreleg resting on the head of an elephant. The two animals stand on a round platform with low sides and a scalloped edge. The platform is pierced with two small holes to either side of the lion.

• Label

  This incense burner, cast in the shape of a lion, was made in the Deccan area of India during the Islamic Sultanate period (ca. 1206-1526). The back compartment was concealed with a lid, which has been lost; incense burning in that compartment would send smoke out of the perforated chest and the mouth. The piece merges an imported Islamic form—an animal-shaped incense burner—with shapes common to Indian art such as the elephant and lion with horns and bulging eyes.

• Provenance

  At least 1960s-?

  Mozaffar Momtaz (1902-1985), London, England, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  ?-at least November 1991

  Ownership information unknown

  At least November 1991-December 1991

  John Lawrence Fine Arts, Inc. (active mid-1980s-1990s), London, England, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  From 1991

  National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, purchased from John Lawrence Fine Arts, Inc. [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See letter from Farokh Momtaz, dated November 15, 1991, copy in object file. Farokh Momtaz’s complete letter states, “To Whom it May Concern: [/] This is to confirm that the bronze incense burner in the shape of a lion, its foot upon an elephant, which is now in the possession of John Lawrence Fine Arts, was in the collection of my late husband during the 1960s. [/] Yours sincerely, [/] F. Momtaz [signed] [/] Mrs. F. Momtaz.”

  Farokh Momtaz (1922-2005) of London, England was the wife of Mozaffar Momtaz (1902-1985), a dealer of Islamic art in Paris, France, and London, England.

  Mozaffar Momtaz (1902-1985; active until 1977) was an Iranian-born dealer of Islamic art, based in Paris, France, and London England. Mr. Momtaz and his wife left Iran in about 1950 and moved to Paris. In about 1960 (at least by 1966), the Momtaz family moved to London, where Mr. Momtaz established a gallery near Portobello Road. In 1977, Mr. Momtaz’s daughter took over her father’s business.

  [2] See incoming receipt, dated December 9, 1991, copy in object file. The object was transferred from John Lawrence Fine Arts, Inc., to the Freer Gallery of Art for acquisition consideration on December 9, 1991.

  See also invoice from John Lawrence Fine Arts, Inc., to the Freer Gallery of Art, dated December 19, 1991, copy in object file. Object is described as, “An incense Burner in the Shape of a Lion. [/] Bronze, Height 7 inches (18 cm.) [/] Sultanate, Deccan, India, 15th c.”

  John Lawrence Fine Arts, Ltd. was a gallery in London, England that specialized in the sale of Indian and Islamic art. Mark Zebrowski (1945-1999) and John Robert Alderman, who were American dealers and collectors, formed the company in the 1980s. John Lawrence Fine Arts was active in the mid-1980s and 1990s and successfully placed works in the collections of the British Museum; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and San Diego Museum of Art.

  [3] See Freer Gallery of Art, “Acquisition Consideration Form,” approved on December 19, 1991, copy in object file. The object is part of the museum’s Freer Gallery of Art Collection.

  Research updated June 3, 2024

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Engaging the Senses (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Masterworks of Indian Painting (December 13, 1997 to June 13, 1998)

  At the Margins (June 4 to November 30, 1997)

  South and South East Asian Art (May 9, 1993 to February 7, 2000)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Mozaffar Momtaz (1902-1985; active until 1977)

  John Lawrence Fine Arts, Inc. (active mid-1980s-1990s)

• Origin

  India

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• 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

  1400s

• Name

  John Lawrence Fine Arts, Inc., Momtaz, Mozaffar

• Place

  India

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Cats, Art, Animals, Sculpture, Brass (alloy), Incense, Delhi Sultanate (1206 - 1526), Metal-work

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes