Offered in this lot is a Somali Incense Burner. Provenance: the Owen D. Mort, Jr. Collection. Owen David Mort was an American engineer who amassed an impressive collection throughout his worldwide travels. His collection has included art, artifacts and other historical items from which he has donated to museums at the University of Utah and Snite Museum of Art, the University of Notre Dame, especially of African art. Dabqaad, Somali for "fire raiser", also known as unsi or girgire, is an incense burner, or censer. Dabqaads are traditionally used to perfume homes after large meals and/or during special occasions, such as when one is expecting guests. Uunsi, the Somali word for frankincense, is largely sourced from Boswellia trees across East Africa, and is one of their most important natural resources. According to the elder Somali community, uunsi is used to lift your spirits and make the house smell clean with its powerful scent that lingers for hours. With one handle, it is commonly used in Somaliland, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. Made of white clay (hydrous magnesium silicate) can be found throughout Somalia, and is mined and carved in the South. Somali incense burners, censers, are similar in shape throughout, oblong and tapered at the top, wide openings, for placing coal and incense to burn, on either side of one or two handles, small teardrop openings sometimes resembling flower petals. Vertical and horizontal indented designs decorate the sides. A similar Somali censer is on display at the British Museum. The censer exhibits soot staining from normal use, slight surface cracks from manufacture, no other obvious marring noted. Measures 5.75"W x 8.75"H, base 3.75" diameter approximately. Weight approximate 1lb., 2oz.*