Bottle
Unknown Artist
late 17th century
Medium
Stonepaste; luster-painted on yellow glaze ground with cobalt blue glaze
Dimensions
H. 15 in. (38.1 cm) Max Diam. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Accession Number
91.1.197
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant bottle from the late 17th exemplifies the masterful ceramics of the Islamic world, crafted from stonepaste—a composite material of quartz, clay, and frit that allowed artisans to create thin, translucent bodies mimicking Chinese porcelain. Standing 15 inches tall with a graceful swelling form (max diameter 5¼ inches), it features a yellow glaze ground adorned with luster-painting and cobalt blue glaze. The luster technique, involving metallic oxides fired in a low-oxygen kiln, produces a shimmering, iridescent glow that catches the light, evoking luxury and otherworldly beauty. P...