Incensario Vessel with Lid (work of art)
Artwork Info
Key Ideas
- Incensario means “incense burner” in Spanish. This ceramic incense burner was used to hold and burn incense.
- Incense rituals were important in Mesoamerica and Central America. The ritual of burning incense connected people to the spirit world and the gods and goddesses.
- Crocodile imagery is often depicted in Costa Rican art, especially on incense burners used in religious ceremonies. In ancient times crocodiles were believed to have supernatural powers. They were viewed as a symbol of power and strength.
- The lid of this incense burner features a hollow crocodile figure with a spiky crest around its head and holes in its body. When incense was burned inside the vessel, smoke escaped through the openings in the lid and the crocodile’s body.
Learn More
Costa Rican incense burners are artifacts that reflect ancient beliefs and rituals. Incense burners like this one were used in religious ceremonies and healing rituals. The smoke from burning incense created a sensory experience that connected participants to the spirit world.
The Spanish term incensario translates to “incense burner” in English. Incense burners are generally made from fire-resistant materials like ceramic or metal. This ceramic incense burner still has traces of sediment on its surface, from the archaeological site where it was found.
The bowl and lid have decorative borders that resemble crocodile scales or the texture of a ceiba tree. The lid tapers up to a crocodile figure resting on top. The spiky crest around the crocodile’s head is a design element found on many ancient incense burners. The crocodile figure is hollow and has several openings that allow smoke to pass through from the bowl. When incense was burned inside this vessel, smoke escaped through the holes in the lid and the crocodile’s body.
Ancient Costa Ricans viewed crocodiles as symbols of power and strength. Crocodiles were believed to possess supernatural powers like guarding the underworld. They were also linked to rain and fertility, reflecting their role in the ecosystem.
Additional Resources
Resources for Teachers
- Visit a web page to explore a similar incense burner and read about the ritual uses of incense throughout Mesoamerica and Central America.
- Read an article about the history of incense and its spiritual purposes.
Resources for Students
- View the Crocodile Effigy Vessel in the NCMA Collection.
- View a similar incense burner at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Images
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Incensario Vessel with Lid
A ceramic incense burner featuring a reptile figure that resembles a crocodile on top of a domed lid. The crocodile is hollow and depicted with a crest around its head. The bowl and lid of the vessel are reddish-brown in color and cone-shaped, with a flared base under the bowl. The top edge of the bowl and the bottom edge of the lid feature a decorative border. There are round openings in the crocodile figure and the lid, to allow the smoke from burning incense to escape.
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COSTA RICAN, Incensario Vessel with Lid, 96_4_108-ab, view B
A ceramic incense burner featuring a reptile figure that resembles a crocodile on top of a domed lid. The crocodile is hollow and depicted with a crest around its head. The bowl and lid of the vessel are reddish-brown in color and cone-shaped, with a flared base under the bowl. The top edge of the bowl and the bottom edge of the lid feature a decorative border. There are round openings in the crocodile figure and the lid, to allow the smoke from burning incense to escape.
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COSTA RICAN, Incensario Vessel with Lid, 96_4_108-ab, view C
A ceramic incense burner featuring a reptile figure that resembles a crocodile on top of a domed lid. The crocodile is hollow and depicted with a crest around its head. The bowl and lid of the vessel are reddish-brown in color and cone-shaped, with a flared base under the bowl. The top edge of the bowl and the bottom edge of the lid feature a decorative border. There are round openings in the crocodile figure and the lid, to allow the smoke from burning incense to escape.