Beads
Unknown Artist
8th–13th century
Medium
Earthenware; glazed
Dimensions
Ht. 1 1/16 in. (2.7 cm) W. 1 in. (2.5 cm) D. 5/16 in. (0.8 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1948
Accession Number
48.101.222.122
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic collection, *Beads* is a example of earthenware craftsmanship from the 8th to 13th century—a vibrant era spanning the Abbasid Caliph and early medieval Islamic world. Crafted during a golden age of cultural exchange along trade routes like the Silk Road, these small glazed objects (just over 1 inch wide and high) were likely used in jewelry, amulets, or prayer strands, reflecting everyday artistry in regions from Iraq to Persia. The medium of glazed earthenware highlights innovative techniques of the time. Artisans applied a vitreous glaze o...