Bowl
Unknown Artist
13th century
Medium
Stonepaste
Dimensions
H. 3 11/16 in. (9.4 cm) Diam. 8 5/8 in. (21.9 cm) Wt. 11.2 oz. (317.6 g)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1963
Accession Number
63.16.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant 13th-century stone bowl, hailing from the Islamic world, exemplifies the refined ceramic artistry of the medieval Islamic period. Measuring just under 4 inches tall and 8.5 inches in diameter, its lightweight form (11.2 ounces) made it ideal for daily use while showcasing exceptional craftsmanship. Crafted using stonepaste—a composite of quartz, clay, and frit—this medium allowed artisans to achieve a durable, ivory-white body perfect for vibrant underglaze painting and glossy turquoise or blue glazes, techniques pioneered in regions like Iran and Syria during the Seljuk era. Bir...