♫ “Oh the weather outside is frightful
And the fire is so delightful…” ♫
Frank Sinatra had it right when he crooned the magic words of that winter classic “Let it Snow.” As the weather gets colder, nothing is more delightful than a warm fire blazing in the fireplace. Unfortunately, not all of us have fireplaces to cozy up to. Fear not, though! For those of you suffering from fireplace envy, we have the perfect alternative: the brazier. Exquisitely beautiful, modular, and functional, the brazier combines warmth, light, and elegance to create the perfect space heater to cozy up to. Trust us when we say: it won’t be long before your friends suffer from a new kind of envy—envy over your marvelous brazier!
The Facts
Braziers are functional pieces, usually made of copper, brass, or baked clay, that serve several purposes: burning incense, lighting a house, heating a room, and cooking food. Braziers are generally pierced, allowing heat to escape and oxygen to reach the coals. These beautiful examples of intricate metalwork show how artists fuse practicality and elegance to create functional and attractive items.
The Pieces
According to the Turkish Cultural Foundation’s official website, braziers are composed of multiple parts: the tray, the base, the body, the fire bowl, and the cover.
This Syrian brazier (on left) is silver-plated and decorated with a whimsical starburst and leaf design. A modular piece, it consists of a base, a body, a fire bowl, and a cover. It is available at Beaux Arts Galleria.
The tray is usually the bottom-most part of the vessel, and is used to catch sparks and debris from the fire. The tray is generally circular, and is made from the same metal used for the brazier, according to turkishculture.org. Sometimes the tray is easily separated from the brazier for easy cleaning.
The base is attached to the tray and acts as the support system for the body, or the “ash-bowl,” of the brazier.
The base of the brazier.
The brazier’s ash bowl. A round pan, it nestles into the hollow of the base, allowing the decorative motifs to be shown off to their best advantage.
The fire bowl is “where the coals are placed,” and is referred to as “the belly of the brazier” in some countries (turkishculture.org). Like the tray, the fire bowl is often removable so that the coals can be easily thrown away and changed.
The fire bowl of the brazier. Small and light, it fits comfortably within the circle of the ash bowl.
The final part of the brazier is the cover. This portion of the brazier is “generally colonical, decorated with pierced work” so that oxygen can easily reach the coals (turkishculture.org). A handle is commonly attached to the cover so that it can be easily opened and closed. Although not every brazier has all of these components, you are likely to find some or all of these, or similar parts, on most antique braziers.
The brazier cover with its ornate décor and finial handle.
The Creative Use of Braziers
Although the brazier is traditionally used as an incense burner or to provide heat, braziers can be used in a variety of other ways. Their exquisite metalwork allows them to be transformed into stunning centerpieces or sculptural art.
The lace-like, pierced metalwork of the brazier provides a pretty backdrop for the fruit and champagne. Its uniqueness makes this an unforgettable centerpiece.
In Our Gallery
This silver plated brazier housed in our gallery functions mainly as an incense burner. The piece was made in Morocco and is decoratively pierced for functional and aesthetic purposes. The embossed circular tray sits on four feet and incorporates hinges on the cover.
Whether used to heat food and drink while entertaining during the holidays, or just placed in the kitchen or living room as a conversation starter, braziers are valuable and interesting collectors items.
