Title: Peacock Form Incense Burner (Dhoopdan)
Region: Deccan (South India)
Date: 19th century
Medium: Cast brass
Dimensions: 11 1/2 x 12 inches (29.2 x 30.5 cm)
Presented: Loose – unmounted
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Description:
A striking and sculpturally ambitious nineteenth-century Deccani brass incense burner (dhoopdan) cast in the form of a peacock, one of the most enduring and symbolically charged motifs in the history of Indian art. Executed in thickly cast brass with a rich butterscotch patina developed through age and handling, the object combines ritual function with highly expressive zoomorphic design.
Executed in thickly cast brass, the surface has acquired an exceptionally attractive butterscotch patina, the result of decades of use, handling, and natural oxidation. This warm, mellow surface enhances the sculptural quality of the object while accentuating the intricate engraved and pierced ornament. The burner combines ritual function with highly expressive zoomorphic design.
The burner is conceived as a stylized peacock standing atop a pedestal foot, the hollow body serving as the incense chamber. The upper section lifts open on a hinge, allowing charcoal and incense to be placed within, while pierced openings along the neck and body permit fragrant smoke to escape during ritual use. The elongated neck rises into a boldly abstracted head with curling crest and scrolling ornamental flourishes characteristic of Deccani metalworking traditions.
Particularly notable are the elaborate openwork tail elements and the rhythmic comma-shaped foliate curls extending behind the bird, features associated with the decorative vocabulary of the Deccan. While retaining aspects of the elegant abstraction seen in earlier Islamic metalwork traditions of the region, the piece possesses a distinctly Indian sculptural sensibility in its robust modeling and animated form. The projecting handle terminates in a makara-inspired creature head and rests on a secondary support foot, creating a visually dynamic silhouette while stabilizing the vessel during use. The body is engraved with overlapping feather patterns and scale-like ornament that enhance the tactile richness of the surface.
Incense burners of this type were used in both courtly and domestic settings for ritual purification, devotional practice, and the perfuming of interiors. The present example belongs to a long-established Deccani tradition of peacock-form incense burners represented by examples in major public and private collections. Closely related burners are preserved in the Detroit Institute of Arts and the British Museum, while another notable example formerly formed part of the renowned Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Collection, Hyderabad. Earlier examples of comparable construction and design have appeared at Christie’s, Bonhams, Olympia Auctions, and Lyon & Turnbull, attesting to the enduring popularity of the form and its importance within the metalworking traditions of the Deccan. The present burner reflects the continued vitality of this tradition into the nineteenth century while exhibiting the bold sculptural modeling and decorative exuberance characteristic of later Deccani metalwork.
Large figural incense burners of this quality and sculptural complexity are increasingly difficult to find on the market, particularly examples retaining their original pierced ornament, substantial casting, and attractive age-developed patina.
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Condition:
The piece remains in very good condition overall with expected wear, surface variation, and oxidation consistent with age and use. Please review the photographs carefully for condition and details.
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Provenance:
Private Collection, New York, acquired in the early 2000s.
Acquired from the art trade, United States.
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References:
Mark Zebrowski, Gold, Silver and Bronze from Mughal India (London: Alexandria Press, 1997).
Mark Zebrowski, Deccani Painting (London: Sotheby Publications, 1983).
George Michell and Mark Zebrowski, Architecture and Art of the Deccan Sultanates (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999).
Detroit Institute of Arts, peacock-form incense burner, collection database.
British Museum, peacock-form incense burner, collection database.
Christie’s, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, various sale catalogues.
Bonhams, Islamic and Indian Art, various sale catalogues.
Lyon & Turnbull, Islamic & Indian Art, various sale catalogues.
Olympia Auctions, Islamic & Indian Art, various sale catalogues.