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Spittoon

Museum of Islamic Art

Currently on view at Museum of Islamic Art
Title:
Spittoon
Production place:
North India
Date:
1700 - 1800
Period:
Mughal
Material:
Glass
Technique:
Glassblowing, Enamelling, Gilding
Dimensions:
9 cm
Diameter:
12 cm

Glass from Mughal India is known by its bright colours, often decorated in enamelled technique and gold paint. Mughal spittoons, such as this one, were all made from cobalt-blue or emerald-green glass to conceal the red-stained byproduct of chewed 'paan'. 'Paan', a mixture of betel nuts, slaked lime, betel leaves, and tobacco, is a popular after-dinner treat to freshen the breath, still widely consumed across South Asia.

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