Bowl
Unknown Artist
9th–10th century
Medium
Earthenware; buff slip, underglaze painted in polychrome pigments under transparent glaze
Dimensions
H. 3 1/16 in. (7.8 cm) Diam. 7 11/16 in. (19.6 cm) Base: 4 in. (10.2 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1940
Accession Number
40.170.102
Art Historical Context
This elegant earthenware bowl, crafted by an unknown artist in the9th–10th, exemplifies the golden age of Islamic ceramics. Hailing from the Islamic world—likely regions like Iraq or Iran—it measures a modest 3 1/16 inches (7.8 cm) in height and 7 11/16 inches (19.6 cm) in, making it a practical yet refined vessel for daily use, such as serving food or beverages. The bowl's medium showcases innovative techniques of the era: a buff slip (a creamy clay coating) forms the base, over which polychrome pigments in multiple vibrant colors were painted beneath a transparent glaze. This underglaze met...