Beads
Unknown Artist
9th–12th century
Medium
Lapis lazuli; cut
Dimensions
H. 7/16 in. (1.1 cm) W. 1/4 in. (0.7 cm) D. 1/8 in. (0.3 cm)
Classification
Stone
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1948
Accession Number
48.101.69e
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic collection, these delicate lapis lazuli beads, crafted by an unknown artist between the th and 12th centuries, exemplify the exquisite lapidary artistry of the medieval Islamic world. Measuring just a fraction of an inch—height 7/16 in. (11 cm), width 1/4 in. (0.7 cm), and 1/8 in. (0.3 cm)—they were meticulously cut from the prized deep-blue stone sourced primarily from Afghanistan's Badakhshan mines. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1948, these tiny treasures invite us to marvel at the precision required to shape such minuscule forms. La...