Bath Scraper

Art Historical Context

Step into the steamy world of medieval Islamic bathhouses with this intriguing *Bath Scraper*, a12th–13th earthenware tool from the Islamic Art collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Crafted by an unknown artist using unglazed, molded techniques, this utilitarian ceramic object exemplifies the everyday artistry of the period. The molding process allowed for efficient production of sturdy, handheld implements designed for personal hygiene—scraping away soap, oils, or dead skin during ritual ablutions in hammams public bathhouses central to social and spiritual life. In the Islamic world,...