This is the bottom part of a censer, a vessel used for holding lit incense. The incense would rest on hot coals that filled the rounded cone shape of the bowl while the censer was swung from a chain by a priest. They were mainly used in a religious context to cense the altars in churches and the other sacred items that would be used during mass. Censers were also used in a non-religious context to honor important people, and also to eliminate odors from dye shops. Many censers were intricately decorated with religious motifs.

—Jericho Steele

Catalogue Record, Penn Museum