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Collections

Perfume Sprinkler12th-13th century

Not on view
Ancient glass vessel with spherical body and tall conical neck, heavily iridescent surface in pearl, lavender, and celadon green, with two small looped handles at the shoulder
Blown glass vessel with globular body and tall narrow neck, pale green with heavy iridescent weathering in blue, gold, and rust tones; two small applied handles at the neck join.
Title
Perfume Sprinkler
Place Made
Eastern Mediterranean
Date Made
12th-13th century
Medium
Glass, free-blown and tooled with applied handles
Dimensions
4 5/8 in. (11.74 cm); Diameter: 2 1/4 in. (5.71 cm)
Credit Line
The Madina Collection of Islamic Art, gift of Camilla Chandler Frost
Accession Number
M.2002.1.461
Classification
Glass
Collecting Area
Art of the Middle East: Islamic
Curatorial Notes

Unlike the alcohol-based formulas familiar today, medieval fragrances were made of highly concentrated, oil- or water-based botanical essences to be applied sparingly. The form of this perfume sprinkler was well suited to the use of such costly substances, having a tapering spout that released only one or two viscous drops at a time.

Selected Bibliography

  • Lo Terrenal y lo Divino: Arte Islámico siglos VII al XIX Colección del Museo de Arte del Condado de Los Ángeles. Santiago: Centro Cultural La Moneda, 2015.