Figure
Unknown Artist
10th–12th century
Medium
Ivory; carved and incised
Dimensions
H. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm) Gr. W. 2 3/8 in. (6 cm) Gr. Diam. 2 in. (5.1 cm)
Classification
Ivories and Bone
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1965
Accession Number
65.52.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite ivory figure, carved by an unknown artist between the 10th and 12th centuries, stands as a testament to the refined artistry of the Islamic world. Measuring just 7½ inches tall, its compact form—likely depicting a human or symbolic subject—showcases the mastery of sculptors in regions like Egypt or the Near East during the Fatimid and early Seljuk eras. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic department, it was acquired through the Fletcher Fund in 5 and exemplifies the luxury of ivories and bone carvings prized in medieval Islamic courts. Ivory, sourced from elephan...