Bone Fragment
Unknown Artist
5th–8th century
Medium
Bone; carved
Dimensions
H. 4 3/16 in. (10.6 cm) Diam. 1 in. (2.5 cm)
Classification
Ivories and Bone
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of H. Dunscombe Colt, 1937
Accession Number
37.75.6
Art Historical Context
This delicate bone fragment, carved from animal bone in the 5th–8th centuries, offers a glimpse into the artistry of early Islamic craftsmanship. Measuring just 4 3/16 inches high and 1 inch in diameter, its petite scale suggests it was part of a small functional object, such as a handle, pin, or inlay for furniture or personal items. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1937 by H. Dunscombe Colt, it resides in the Islamic Art department, highlighting the museum's rich collection of ivories and bone works. Carved bone was a favored medium in the early Islamic world—spanning regions fr...