Bowl
Unknown Artist
12th–13th century
Medium
Stonepaste; overglaze painted, so-called "mina'i" ware
Dimensions
H. 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm) Diam. 8 in. (20.3 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
57.36.8
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant stonepaste bowl, crafted in the 12th–13th century, exemplifies the pinnacle of Islamic ceramic artistry known as "mina'i". Produced during the Seljuq period in Persia (modern-day Iran), mina'i—meaning "enamel" in Persian— a groundbreaking overglaze painting technique. Artisans first fired a white stonepaste body with a tin glaze, then applied vibrant enamel colors (like cobalt blue, turquoise, and gold) over the glaze. A second low-temperature firing fused these pigments, creating luminous, jewel-like hues that have endured for centuries. Measuring just 3⅜ inches high and 8 inches...