{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O110456"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O110456/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O110456","accessionNumber":"M.123-1978","objectType":"Censer","titles":[{"title":"The Cambridge Censer","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"A censer is used to burn incense, a mixture of gum arabic (resin from an acacia tree) and fragrance. Incense has been used since ancient times to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to God. It is placed on hot charcoal in the bowl of the censer, and as the censer is swung to and fro, the smoke billows outwards and upwards to perfume the whole church. \r\n\r\nRitual cleansing and anointing play a crucial part in Christian worship, as they do in other religions. Water, salt, incense and oils are used in ceremonies such as baptism and confirmation, and in the blessing of individuals and of sacred objects like altars and bells.","physicalDescription":"Hexagonal Gothic architectural spire, with Gothic tracery; chain attached.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"copper","id":"AAT11020"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[{"text":"hammering","id":"AAT54098"},{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"},{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Copper alloy, hammered, cast and gilded","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"84","id":"THES49710"},"free":"","case":"CA2","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"84","id":"THES49710"},"free":"","case":"CA2","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"84","id":"THES49710"},"free":"","case":"CA2","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"84","id":"THES49710"},"free":"","case":"CA2","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Censer","id":"AAT198814"}],[{"text":"Censer","id":""}],[{"text":"Censer","id":""}],[{"text":"Censer","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1350","earliest":"1345-01-01","latest":"1354-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"M.123:1-1978","id":"O110456"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"M.123:2-1978","id":"O110456"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"M.123:2/1-1978","id":"O110456"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"26.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of body","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"13","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Historical significance: This is a rare survival of English base metal church plate, and the earliest English censer made of base metal. It is clearly related to the Ramsey Abbey Censer (268- 1923) of circa 1325, silver gilt. Like the latter, the Cambridge Censer has a hexagonal spire. Both are evidently miniature versions in form and style of the contemporary chapter houses.","historicalContext":"Medieval Worship \r\n\r\nUntil the 16th century Roman Catholicism was the universal faith of the Western world and Latin was its universal language. The needs of church ritual inspired the production of a range of richly decorated vessels and vestments, crosses and images in the form of altarpieces. Many were made of gold or silver, adorned with enamels or gems, precious materials seen as symbolic of the reverence due to the worship of God. Less wealthy churches used cheaper vessels in copper, brass or pewter.  \r\n\r\nThe celebration of Mass was and remains the most important service of the Roman Catholic liturgy. For this the minimum requirements are an altar, a chalice and missal, the book of texts necessary for the Mass. Holy Communion or Eucharist is that part of the Mass in which the people participate in the sacrifice of Christ, by partaking of his body and blood in the consecrated bread and wine, held in the chalice and paten.","briefDescription":"Copper alloy, gilding, England ca.1350","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Campbell, Marian. 'V. The Cambridge Censer'. Entry in R. W. Lightbown, et al., 'Metalwork Acquisitions at the Victoria and Albert Museum 1978-88: Supplement'. In: <u>The Bvrlington Magazine</u>, vol. 131, no. 1034 (May, 1989), pp. 385-392 (p. 386)."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Two Censers\r\n\r\nA censer is used to burn incense, a mixture of gum arabic (resin from an acacia tree) and fragrance. Incense has been used since ancient times to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to God. It is placed on hot charcoal in the bowl of the censer, and as the censer is swung to and fro, the smoke billows outwards and upwards to perfume the whole church. \r\n\r\nRitual cleansing and anointing play a crucial part in Christian worship, as they do in other religions. Water, salt, incense and oils are used in ceremonies such as baptism and confirmation, and in the blessing of individuals and of sacred objects like altars and bells.\r\n\r\nVenice, Italy, about 1500. Silver\r\nMuseum no.M.39-1951. Hildburgh Gift\r\nEngland, about 1350\r\nCopper alloy, hammered, cast and gilded\r\nMuseum no.M.123-1978","date":{"text":"27/10/2005","earliest":"2005-10-27","latest":"2005-10-27"}}],"partNumbers":["M.123-1978","M.123:1-1978","M.123:2-1978","M.123:2/1-1978"],"accessionNumberNum":"123","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1978,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","The Cambridge Censer","Censer [1]","Censer [2]","Censer [3]"],"assets":["2016JF7001","2016JJ3434","2016JJ3435","2019LM5531","2019LT1047","2019LW4173","2021MY3889","2023NL7407"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-21","recordCreationDate":"2005-03-18","availableToBook":false}}