School/Style: Winchester style
Cultural Background/Time Period: Late Anglo-Saxon (Mid-10th Century)
Origin/Discovery Location: Europe, British Isles, England, Kent, Canterbury (Kent), Palace Street (northern end)
Materials Used: Copper alloy, silver, niello
Description: This censer-cover is a remarkable piece of craftsmanship in the Winchester style, originating from the Late Anglo-Saxon period, specifically the mid-10th century. It features an architectural design reminiscent of a square church tower.
The censer-cover is made of copper alloy and is adorned with intricate silver and niello inlay. At the base, it has a plinth, and on each side of the plinth, subrectangular blackened silver plates with acanthus ornamentation are inserted. Each corner of the cover has a perforated ledge through which passes a narrow rod attached to a suspended chain, allowing the lid to be raised for filling the censer with incense.
The frames of the cover contain four rectangular side panels, each depicting a pair of animals or birds. These creatures have their bodies decorated with blackened silver plates. The animals are arranged in alternating pairs, and one of the panels is additionally adorned with acanthus ornamentation. Above these panels, there are triangular pediments framed with blackened silver bands. Three of these gables display bent animals, while the fourth shows a bird. Originally, these figures were inlaid with silver.
The hipped roof of the censer-cover is composed of four diamond-shaped panels. Three of these panels depict intertwined creatures, while the fourth panel features a bird and an intertwined animal. The wings of the bird and the thighs of the animals are inlaid with silver plates. The lower creatures' heads protrude like gargoyles from the corners of the building, while the heads of the three animals and the bird are situated at the top of each panel, just below the biconical headpiece. This headpiece is inlaid with a broad band of silver. The tails of the animals in these panels are intertwined and culminate in toothed leaf-like ornaments at the top of each pediment.
This censer-cover exemplifies the exceptional artistry and intricacy of the Winchester style during the Late Anglo-Saxon period, providing valuable insights into the cultural and artistic achievements of that era.