Dish with 'Kaleidoscope' Design
Unknown Artist
ca. 1580–85
Medium
Stonepaste; polychrome painted under transparent glaze
Dimensions
H. 2 11/16 in. (6.8 cm) Diam. of rim: 13 3/4 in. (34.9 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Philippe and Edith de Montebello, 1991
Accession Number
1991.172
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Dish with 'Kaleidoscope' Design*, crafted around 1580–85 by an unknown artist, exemplifies the pinnacle of Islamic ceramic artistry. Made from stonepaste—a finely ground mixture of quartz, clay, and glass frit that mimicked the prized Chinese porcelain—this shallow dish measures just 2⅝ inches high but boasts an impressive 13¾-inch rim diameter, perfect for serving communal meals or displaying as a decorative charger. The polychrome pigments, painted beneath a transparent glaze, were fired at high temperatures, ensuring vibrant colors that endure centuries. The 'kaleidoscope' ...