Capital

Art Historical Context

This finely carved limestone capital, dating to the 6th–7th century, hails from the early days of Islamic art and architecture. Measuring 19⅝ inches wide by 7¹/₁₆ inches high, it would have crowned a column, bearing the weight of arches or beams in a mosque, palace, or public. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art through Rogers Fund in 191, it exemplifies the department's treasures from this formative period. Crafted from durable limestone—a favored medium for its workability and longevity— the capital reveals masterful hand-carving techniques. Artisans shaped its surfaces with precisio...