Coin Weight
Unknown Artist
11th century
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
H. 3/16 in. (0.5 cm) Diam. 7/8 in. (2.2 cm) Wt. 0.1 oz. (2.8 g)
Classification
Glass
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1908
Accession Number
08.256.45
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the bustling markets of the 11th-century Islamic world, precision in trade was paramount, and this delicate glass coin weight from the Museum of Art exemplifies that ingenuity. Crafted from translucent glass, it measures just 7/8 inch (2.2 cm) in diameter and weighs a mere 0.1 oz. (2.8 g), designed to verify the exact weight of gold dinars or silver dirhams Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 8, it hails from the museum's Islamic Art department, highlighting everyday tools that supported vast commercial networks from the Middle East to Spain. Islamic artisans excelled in glassmaking, using...