Holy water font and sprinkler

The holy water font has, like almost all Christian liturgical objects, an origin that goes back to the earliest centuries of our era when it was custom to place a basin at the entrances of churches, so that the faithful could wash their hands before going into the house of God. Later versions were smaller in size; they were affixed at the side of the church door and used for a more ritual cleansing. They became moveable vessels and were used for sprinkling the faithful or objects to be purified.
It is a small container made of precious metal or other materials, sometimes rounded, with a tilting handle and accompanying aspersorium used for sprinkling.
The holy water font and aspersorium from the Museum’s collection is made of cast metal. Its shape is more akin to those used by Hindus in their homes or temples.