Blown glass tear bottle “ashkdan,” Qajar Iran, 19th century

Description

This tear bottle, or *ashkdan*, features a globular body in colourless blown glass, animated by a subtle amber tinge. It rests on a small annular foot and extends into a long, sinuous neck with twisted ribs, flaring into a slender mouth with a folded rim. Traditionally associated with the collection of tears in Persian poetry and popular memory, *ashkdan* could also serve as rose-water sprinklers, or *gulabdan*. With its dynamic profile and highly elongated silhouette, this object belongs to the production of Iranian art glass during the Qajar period, particularly represented in the 19th century by the workshops of Shiraz.