Figure

Art Historical Context

This petite earthenware figure, measuring just 5⅛ inches high, dates to the 12th–13th century and originates the vibrant Islamic world. Crafted by an unknown, it belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art department, acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1957. As a rare example of unglazed ceramics classified as sculpture, it reflects the period's experimentation with clay before the widespread adoption of glossy glazes in later Islamic pottery traditions. Unglazed earthenware, at relatively low temperatures, results in a simple, porous terracotta surface that highlights the potter...