Shaw, Henry: The decorative arts, ecclesiastical and civil, of the Middle Ages (London, 1851)

A THURIBLE, OR CENSER.

IN THE POSSESSION OF WILLIAM WELLS, ESQ^ OF HOLME LODGE,

HUNTINGDONSHIRE.

ONSTANTLY in use, from being
employed for burning incense during all
the solemn offices of the catholic church,
the Thurible is generally distinguiihed
for the beauty and elaboration of its de-
sign. It is held in the hand suspended
by chains. The one passing from the
apex of the finial, through the centre of
the top to which the others are attached,
and there fastened to a ring (as ssiown in
our engraving) is for the purpose of rais-
ing the upper portion of the censer from the basin to admit of its being sup-

plied with fuel and incense.

This beautiful relic was lately found in Whittlesea
Mere, during the process of draining that extensive
Lake, and became the property of Mr. Wells, as Lord
of the Manor of Glatton with Holme ; in virtue of
which he holds the largest right of fiffiing, with power
to summon the Fishermen
his courts at Holme,
presentments

to

when prelentments are
made, and the Bailiff of the
Manor proves the nets with
a brazen meffi-pin, &c.

From its general charac-
ter, and the style of its de-
tails, there can be little
doubt of its being of Eng-
liffi workman-
ssiip. It is of sil-
ver, and weighs
nearly fifty ounc-
es, the whole be-
ing gilt with the
exception of the
chains. The ba-
sin is remarkable

for itsgracefulforrrij
and the most exqui-
site delicacy is pre-