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Perfume Sprinkler (Qumqum)

early 13th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 454
Globular‑bodied perfume sprinklers with marvered and combed herringbone designs were popular in thirteenth century Syria, and a few bear further gilded ornament. At first glance, this piece looks like an example of such a technique. Closer inspection reveals its pale blue zigzag design to be enamel‑painted on the cobalt‑colored body, in imitation of marvering.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Perfume Sprinkler (Qumqum)
  • Date: early 13th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Syria
  • Medium: Glass, blue; blown, enameled, and gilded
  • Dimensions: H. 2 1/2 in. (6.3 cm)
    Diam. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm)
  • Classification: Glass
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Walter C. Baker, 1971
  • Object Number: 1972.118.42
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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second half 14th century
Plate, Glass; free blown, enameled and gilded; tooled on the pontil
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Perfume Sprinkler [Qumqum] with Birds, Glass; blown, enameled, and gilded
Perfume Sprinkler [Qumqum] with Birds
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Long-Necked Bottle, Glass, colorless with green tinge; blown, blown applied foot, applied decoration, enameled, and gilded
Long-Necked Bottle
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