Sprinkler
Unknown Artist
probably 18th–19th century
Medium
Glass, colorless; blown with internal rib, folded foot, applied handles and decoration
Dimensions
H. 13 in. (33 cm) Max. Diam. 3 15/16 in. (10 cm)
Classification
Glass
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Henry G. Marquand, 1883
Accession Number
83.7.261
Art Historical Context
Behold the elegant *Sprinkler*, a delicate masterpiece of Islamic glass artistry from the late 18th to 19th century. Crafted from colorless blown glass, this vessel stands 13 inches tall with a slender profile (maximum diameter just under 4 inches), featuring a folded foot for stability, applied handles for graceful handling, and intricate decoration. Likely used to disperse rosewater, perfume, or ablution liquids, it evokes the refined rituals of hospitality and purification in Islamic culture, where such objects scented homes, mosques, and ceremonial spaces. The sprinkler's creation showcas...