Dish with Interlace Designs

Art Historical Context

This exquisite 9th-century earthenware, measuring just 6 7/8 inches in diameter, exemplifies the artistry of early Islamic ceramics from the Islamic Art collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Crafted by an unknown artist using molding techniques, it features intricate interlace designs—overlapping geometric patterns that create a mesmerizing sense of rhythm and infinity. The addition of glazing not only provided a glossy, durable surface but also enhanced the play of light on the raised motifs, making this functional object a true work of beauty. In the Abbasid era, such dishes were eve...