Flute
Unknown Artist
9th century
Medium
Bone; incised
Dimensions
H. 11/16 in. (1.7 cm) W. 1/2 in. (1.2 cm) LengtH. 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm) 3 holes Diam. 1/4 in. (0.6 cm), 3 holes 1/2 in. (1.3 cm)
Classification
Ivories and Bone
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1938
Accession Number
38.40.239
Tags
Art Historical Context
This 9th-century bone flute, attributed to an unknown artist, represents a rare surviving example of early Islamic instruments. Measuring just 6 7/8 inches long with three incised holes, the object was carved from bone and decorated through incision, a technique that allowed artisans to add subtle ornamentation to everyday or ceremonial items. Its small scale suggests it was designed for personal use, perhaps in intimate settings within the Abbasid-era cultural sphere. Classified under Ivories and Bone in the Metropolitan Museum’s Department of Islamic Art, the flute highlights the period’s a...