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Spittoon or Incense Burner

late 16th–early 17th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 463
Such baluster-shaped vessels are seen in paintings from the Deccan and Mughal periods, most often on the ground at a royal gathering or held by an attendant. One is included in the nearby painting Sultan Ibrahim ‘Adil Shah II Venerates a Sufi Saint. The spiral fluting is fairly typical of Deccani metalwork, though surviving examples in this shape are exceedingly rare.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Spittoon or Incense Burner
  • Date: late 16th–early 17th century
  • Geography: Attributed to India, Deccan, Bijapur or Golconda
  • Medium: Brass; cast in sections, joined, engraved
  • Dimensions: H. 9 in. (22.9 cm)
  • Classification: Metal
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of Islamic Art Gifts, 2007
  • Object Number: 2007.287
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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Spittoon in Double Bell Design, Zinc and copper alloy; cast, engraved, inlaid with silver (bidri ware)
Spittoon in Double Bell Design
late 18th–early 19th century
"Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album, Govardhan, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
"Akbar With Lion and Calf", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album
Painting by Govardhan
Calligrapher Mir 'Ali Haravi
verso: ca. 1630; recto: ca. 1530–50
Garden Fountain, Brass; cast in sections, joined and engraved
Garden Fountain
early 17th century
Spittoon, Zinc alloy; cast, engraved, inlaid with silver (bidri ware)
Spittoon
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