# Assembly and the Art of Mosan Dinanderie

The censer is a complex object, not sculpted from a single piece of metal, but assembled from two distinct hemispherical parts. This simple structure, once connected by chains (now lost), testifies to a precise expertise and a mastery of the techniques of dinanderie, a craft of excellence that made the reputation of the Mosan region (primarily around Dinant and Liège) in the Middle Ages.

Mosan dinanderie, a term that has expanded to denote brass and copper work, was not a simple utilitarian craft. It is distinguished by an artistic quality and a finesse comparable to that of goldsmithing. It is a technical solution for creating complex, hollow forms from sheet metal, a more common and accessible material than precious metals like gold or silver.