Aromatic substances, and especially incense and rosewater, have had a prominent role in the Islamic world since the very beginning and still do to this very day. In contrast to perfumes applied in person, incense and rosewater were also made part of the social rituals of everyday life, either together or separately, a fact which created a special demands for vessels into which they were kept and used. Perfume flask or Rosewater sprinkler (qumqum), cast bronze with engraved decoration. Globular body, resting on a slender medium-heightl splayed base, sloping shoulder, short waisted neck opening on the upper part and adorned by a series of ribs below the rim. The body is decorated with two round medallions, each showing a peacock against scroll ground. An epigraphic, benedictory band, written in thuluth style runs around the neck.
Iran or Afghanistan, 9th or 10th century.