Vessel, sprinkler

Blue glass sprinkler, of Islamic form, known as a qumqum. It is one of two Islamic-style glass vessels found by archaeologists excavating a medieval well behind a building on Fenchurch Street in the City of London. The date of the other contents of the well, and of this type of sprinkler, suggests the sprinkler was made in the 1100s to 1200s, and came from Syria or Egypt. It would have been used for sprinkling rosewater or perfume during religious rituals and at home. Documentary records for the property, which fronted onto Mincing Lane, have not survived so we do not know who lived there in this period. The presence of this rare imported glassware suggest that the occupants were wealthy or high status with connections to international trade. It's possible that they were merchants who traded with the eastern Mediterranean or that they came from that area.