Bowl
Unknown Artist
4th–7th century
Medium
Earthenware
Dimensions
Overall: 2 1/16 x 4 3/16 in. (5.2 x 10.7 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture
Coptic
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1925
Accession Number
25.10.20.250
Tags
Art Historical Context
This unassuming earthenware bowl, crafted by an unknown artist in Coptic Egypt between the 4th and 7th centuries, offers a glimpse into the daily life of early Christian communities in the Nile Valley. Measuring just over 2 inches high and 4 inches wide, its modest scale suggests it was designed for practical use—perhaps holding spices, oils, or small portions of food in a household setting. Earthenware, a low-fired clay common in ancient Egypt, was durable yet accessible, reflecting the resourcefulness of Coptic artisans who adapted local traditions amid the region's transition from pharaonic...