Dish
Unknown Artist
early 17th century
Medium
Stonepaste; painted and glazed
Dimensions
H. 2 5/16 in. (5.9 cm) Diam. 11 3/4 in. (29.8 cm) Wt. 2.3lb. (1kg)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William B. Osgood Field, 1902
Accession Number
02.5.50
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant dish, crafted by an unknown artist in the 17th century, the refined ceramics of the Islamic world. Made from stonepaste—a composite material of quartz, clay, and frit that mimicked the translucency of Chinese porcelain— it was painted underglaze and glazed for a lustrous finish. Measuring just 2 5/16 inches high and 3/4 inches in diameter, its shallow form and modest 2.3-pound weight made it ideal for serving sweets, fruits, or spiced delicacies at opulent gatherings. Floral motifs, as suggested by its tags, adorn the surface, reflecting the Islamic artistic tradition of celebra...