Dish
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Stonepaste; underglaze painted in black, blue, and green with red and yellow slips
Dimensions
H. 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm) Diam. 13 5/16 in. (33.8 cm) Wt. 41.6 oz. (1179.5 g)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac D. Fletcher Collection, Bequest of Isaac D. Fletcher, 1917
Accession Number
17.120.94
Art Historical Context
This elegant 17th-century dish, crafted from stonepaste—a durable composite of quartz, clay, and frit glass developed by Islamic potters to rival Chinese porcelain—exemplifies the technical virtuosity of Middle Eastern ceramics. Measuring 13 5/16 inches in diameter and weighing a substantial 41.6 ounces, its shallow form was ideal for serving fruits, sweets, or communal meals, reflecting the hospitality central to Islamic culture. The artwork's decoration features underglaze painting in vivid black, blue, and green, enriched with red and yellow slips—liquid clay applied before glazing and fir...