Pair of Silver Mughal Rosewater Sprinklers (1700)

Description: Northern India, circa 1700

This fine pair of early silver rosewater sprinklers have heavily gadrooned, bulbous bodies; flared feet; long, thin necks chased with acanthus leaf and petal borders; and flared, pierced nozzles.

The silver used in both sprinklers is particularly high grade. The manner of construction suggests an early dating: the undersides of feet for example are not concave but are fully enclosed with flat silver sheet so that the feet also form part of the liquid holding compartment, for example.

Finally, it is rare to encounter surviving pairs of early sprinklers; usually the pairs become separated. Typically they would have been kept as pairs not only to be offered to guests as they arrived at an important home so that they might freshen up after a journey, but also as an integral part of northern Indian Islamic wedding ceremonies. The threads screw anti-clockwise which is associated with eighteenth century Indian silver, rather than clockwise as with later and European threads.

Overall, this pair of sprinklers is highly decorative and sculptural. They are free of dents, splits or repairs but do have a wonderful age-related patina.