Rosewater Sprinkler

This elegant, long-necked glass vessel was found in the Cirebon shipwreck off the coast of Indonesia. The bottle shape is characteristic of wares from the early Abbasid period (9th-10th century), the majority of which manufactured in Persian workshops. Several other fine glass vessels of similar presumed origin were found in the wreck.

Bottles such as this were used to hold precious liquids for the table, such as perfumed waters or wine mixed with herbs and spices. Glass from the Islamic world was particularly prized as a trade item in the Far East, especially China. In return, China shipped large quantities of ceramics westwards, including examples found in the Cirebon wreck.