Bead
Unknown Artist
probably 8th–12th century
Medium
Ivory (?)
Dimensions
Ht. 1/4 in. (0.7 cm) W. 1/4 in. (0.7 cm) D.1/4 in. (0.7 cm)
Classification
Ivories and Bone
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1948
Accession Number
48.101.74
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic collection, this diminutive bead—measuring just a quarter-inch (0.7 cm) in every dimension—offers a glimpse into the refined craftsmanship of the medieval Islamic world. Dated probably to the 8th–12th centuries, it hails from a period of vibrant cultural exchange across the Abbasid and early Seljuk realms, where artisans transformed materials like ivory (or possibly bone) into everyday treasures. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 8 and classified among Ivories and Bone, its compact, cube-like form speaks to the precision required for such s...