Bowl
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Stonepaste; luster-painted on opaque blue glaze
Dimensions
H. 3 in (7.6 cm) Diam. 7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915
Accession Number
30.95.30
Art Historical Context
This elegant 17th-century bowl the Islamic Art collection exemplifies the masterful ceramic traditions of the Islamic world. Crafted from stonepaste—a fine, vitreous body developed by Islamic potters to imitate Chinese porcelain—it stands just 3 inches high and 7⅛ inches in diameter, perfect for serving sweets, fruits, or beverages in a refined household setting. The opaque blue glaze provides a striking, jewel-like ground, while intricate luster-painting adds shimmering metallic highlights that catch the light, creating an effect of luxury and otherworldliness. Lusterware, a technique perfec...