standing on all fours with large paws and up turned tail with rounded terminal, the hinged head with ridged nose, protruding tongue and pointed ring-punched ears, the neck, body and tail pierced with foliate scrolls framed by a strapwork interlace, the underbelly incised with a geometric interlace

Ex-American private collection

Although Khurasanian metalworkers produced incense burners in numerous animal forms, it is these feline ones that are deemed the most outstanding. Similar examples can be found in the David Collection (von Folsach 2001, no.471, p.302), the Louvre (Pope 1938-9, vol. VI, pl. 1297; Paris 1977, no.348, p.165) and the Nasser D. Khalili Collection (The Arts of Islam, Treasures from the Nasser D. Khalili Collection, Sydney 2007, pp.82-83, no.73).