Bowl
Unknown Artist
12th–13th century
Medium
Stonepaste; overglaze painted, so-called "mina'i" ware
Dimensions
H. 3 9/16 in. (9 cm) Diam. 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Rogers Fund, and Gift of The Schiff Foundation, 1957
Accession Number
57.36.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant stonepaste bowl, crafted in the 12th–13th, exemplifies the pinnacle of Islamic ceramic artistry from medieval Persia, likely Kashan. Measuring just 3⅝ inches high and 8¾ inches in diameter, its shallow form was ideal for serving fruits, sweets, or beverages at elite banquets. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Art Department (acquired in 1957 through the Rogers Fund and a gift from The Schiff Foundation), it showcases the technical innovation of "mina'i" ware—a luxurious technique where vibrant enamel colors, including blues, greens, and golds, were painted over a glazed s...