Bowl
Unknown Artist
8th–9th century
Medium
Earthenware; green decoration and opaque yellow glaze
Dimensions
Overall: H. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm) Diam. 3 15/16 in. (10 cm) Base: Diam. 2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1939
Accession Number
39.40.15
Art Historical Context
This delicate earthenware bowl, crafted by an unknown artist in the8th–9th, exemplifies the early flowering of Islamic ceramic artistry. Measuring just 1 1/2 inches high and nearly 4 inches in diameter, its petite scale suggests it was designed for intimate use—perhaps holding spices, confections, or cosmetics in a bustling household of the Abbasid era. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Department (acquired via the Rogers in 1939), it reflects the vibrant pottery traditions of regions like Iraq or Iran, where potters transformed everyday objects into luminous treasures. The b...