Rosewater sprinkler or bottle with light brown, flower sprays and landscapes c. 1700 - 1724

This rosewater sprinkler was made anonymously, from ceramic, probably somewhere in Asia. Look closely and you’ll see the painstaking process of pottery in action. First, the clay body is formed – likely thrown on a wheel to achieve the bottle’s even symmetry. The handle and spout are then carefully added. Next, the piece is fired to achieve that beautiful, light brown glaze. The painted decoration has been added with incredible care, and the landscapes and flower sprays in light blue bring a delicate quality. In its own way, this sprinkler represents a crucial moment in the history of global trade. Objects like these were highly prized, and suggest a real taste for luxury and a desire to elevate everyday routines into moments of aesthetic appreciation. It’s a beautiful example of how the supposedly ‘minor’ arts, like ceramics, can be just as meaningful as painting or sculpture.