Sold Ceramics - Sold Blue and White Kangxi Period 1662-1722 - Other wares - Page 1

Object 2012285

Rosewater sprinkler

China

c.1700

Height 184 mm (7.24 inch), diameter 80 mm (3.15 inch), diameter of mouthrim 5 mm (0.20 inch), diameter of footring 43 mm (1.69 inch), weight 256 grams (9.03 ounce (oz.))

Rosewater sprinkler on tall, spreading foot with deep recessed glazed base. A globular body with a long tapering neck. Decorated in underglaze blue with panels filled with flowering plants growing from taihu (garden) rocks. On the foot and neck groups of leaves alternating with four lozenges. Round the mouthrim a zig-zag lines pattern border.

The shape draws on Persian metalwork designs from the 16th and 17th centuries. Fragrant rosewater (gulaul) was used for refreshment, cleaning and scenting at both religious and secular events in the Islamic world. In Western settlements all over Asia they were widely-used as well. (Düsseldorf 2015, p.276)

Rose water sprinklers, known as gulabpash, have been used in India since the Mughal period for the purpose of refreshing oneself by moistening one's face, washing hands after a meal or for sprinkling a visitor as a gesture of welcome. Dutch traders discovered them in India and subsequently ordered porcelain bottles in various designs to be made in China. These bottles were partly sold in the Ottoman Empire, where local silversmiths fashioned artistic stoppers for them. Today, rose water bottles are found in the Sultan's Collection in Istanbul as well as in some Dutch museums, for example the Princessehof in Leeuwarden or the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen. (Suebsman 2019, p.74)

Perfumation and thurification have a very long history and can be traced back to prehistoric times. For thurification various types of incense burners were and are used until this day. For perfumation, rose-water was used that was stored and applied in specially made sprinklers. (META-Museum: Chinese Export Silver for the Islamic World, (A. von Ferscht, www.chinese-export-silver.com))

Rosewater sprinklers were are known to be decorated in underglaze blue, in 'Red & Gold' or 'Rouge de Fer' , or the body was (partly) covered in powder blue, Batavia brown or some other monochrme colour. At first they were only exported and used as such in Batavia later on in the West they were often fitted with metal or silver mounts. In the Netherlands they served as curiosities and decorative items. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p136)

Condition: Some flaked of pieces of glaze on the bulge, some caused by popped bubbles of glaze during the firing process.

References:

Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 140

Düsseldorf 2015, p.276

Suebsman 2019, p.74

www.chinese-export-silver.com

Price: Sold.