Seventeenth Century Thurible and Boat of Archbishop Antonio Gigli ~ Liturgical Arts Journal

The following thurible, along with its matching boat, formed a prelatial set identified as belonging to the 17th century Italian prelate, Archbishop Luca Antonio Gigli of the diocese of Altari -- one of seven towns that was closely situated to Rome and under the immediate jurisdiction of the Holy See.

The design of this thurible and boat is extremely ornate and the base includes stamps of the arms of the Lambertini family as well as papal insignia. Numerous figures furnish both the boat and thurible which are made of gilt silver.

The stamps of the Lambertini and papal insignia

The boat is particularly ornate in its figural details. including a female figure (possibly the Madonna) holding the Eucharistic symbol of the chalice and host. The head of a cherub forms the handle by which to open the lid, and the lid itself appears to contain a beautiful, neo-classically styled design of an antique figure holding a bowl of burning incense with smoke seen wafting out of it.

This particular set also features a unique, later set of cases (or "custodia") dated to the 18th century, intended to protect the boat, thurible and spoon. Typically these were seen for items such as mitres, but this is the first I have ever seen such a thing for liturgical items such as these.