Bowl
Unknown Artist
10th century
Medium
Earthenware; painted and glazed
Dimensions
H. 3 3/16 in. (8.1 cm) Diam. 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm) Wt. 19.2 oz. (544.4 g)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Florence B. Selden, in memory of Charles K. Wilkinson, 1995
Accession Number
1996.269
Art Historical Context
This elegant 10th-century bowl the Islamic world exemplifies the artistry of early medieval ceramics, crafted during a golden age of cultural and technological exchange under Abbasid influence. Produced in earthenware—a durable, locally sourced clay—the bowl's dimensions (just over 3 inches high and 9 inches wide) made it ideal for everyday use, such as serving food or drink in affluent households. Its presence in the Metropolitan Museum of's Islamic Art Department highlights sophistication of pottery production in regions like Iraq or eastern Iran, where potters innovated to meet growing dema...