Bowl
Unknown Artist
late 12th–13th century
Medium
Earthenware; white slip covered, glazed
Dimensions
H. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm) Diam. 9 in. (22.9 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Edward C. Moore Jr. Gift, 1927
Accession Number
27.13.6
Art Historical Context
This elegant earthenware bowl, crafted by an unknown artist in the 12th–13th century, exemplifies the refined ceramics of the medieval Islamic world. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Department (purchased with the Edward C. Moore. Gift in 1927), it measures a modest4¼ inches high and 9 inches diameter—perfect for daily use yet showcasing artisanal mastery. During this era, under Seljuk and early post-Seljuk patronage, pottery flourished across regions like Persia and Syria, blending functionality with aesthetic splendor. The bowl's medium is key to its allure: a sturdy earth...