Bottle

Art Historical Context

This delicate 17th-century bottle, crafted from stonepaste and painted under a transparent glaze exemplifies the refined ceramics of the Islamic world. Standing just 4¼ inches tall and 4½ inches in, its modest size suggests it may have held perfumes, oils, or spices—everyday luxuries transformed into art. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic department, it reflects the era's mastery of pottery, a medium prized for its ability to convey cultural elegance. Stonepaste, also known as fritware, a groundbreaking Islamic innovation from the medieval period, blending quartz, clay, and g...