Malay Brass Water Sprinkler, Islamic Malaysia

Malay Brass Rose Water Sprinkler

This charming brass sprinkler, of elegant proportions, has a beautiful, soft patina commensurate with its age. The wide foot, body and nozzle are decorated with concentric rings.

Executed in

tembaga kuning (yellow brass), sprinklers such as this were used in two important Malay ceremonies.

The first is the

cukur rambut ceremony which marks the Malay child’s first hair cut. Sliced pandan leaves and flowers sprinkled with rose water (ayer mawa) were given to guests at this ceremony. Rose water was believed to have purifying properties.

The second ceremony is the

berinai ceremony in which the Malay bride’s hands and fingers are stained with henna the night before the bersanding (sitting-in-state) component of the wedding celebrations. The bride’s is sprinkled with rose water during the berinai ceremony.

Singh, B., Malay Brassware, National Museum of Singapore, 1985, p. 3.