Holy Smoke: Censers Across Cultures

by Beate Fricke (editor)

Draws on religious art from four continents to investigate the materiality of the sacred.
 
Burning incense has been a widespread religious practice throughout history and remains so today. The censer and its fragrant, wafting smoke are a basic material exchange between humans and gods and can be found across historical periods, religions, and cultures. Surprisingly, however, little scholarly attention has been given to censers and the rituals they facilitate.
 
Holy Censers Across Cultures investigates the practice of incense—the use of material objects to communicate with the divine—in religious contexts. The book considers the material fabrication of censers themselves, as well as the role of incense within religious ceremonies. Centering the censer not only places the object in a constellation of other religious artifacts, but also relocates rituals long relegated to the margins of religion, art, and ritual. This broad, comparative study will interest scholars in the fields of art history, archaeology, cultural history, anthropology, religious studies, and performance studies.

348 pages, Hardcover

Published March 26, 2024

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gorgeous book with equally gorgeous pictures of censers from around the world. The essays inside were largely academic art history and were very interesting and varied. As a special added, embodied touch, the book came wrapped in an inky paper (like newsprint) that left soot-like marks on your hands--just like a censer would, of course. This book was a perfect melding of information and art.