Fragment
Unknown Artist
9th century
Medium
Earthenware; splash glazed
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Wendell M. Hastings, 1960
Accession Number
60.23.47
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Fragment* from the th century exemplifies early Islamic ceramic artistry, hailing from the vibrant workshops of the Abbasid era. As a piece of earthenware adorned with splash glazing, it a pivotal moment in the evolution of pottery in the Islamic world, where potters experimented with bold, colorful techniques to decorate everyday vessels like bowls and tiles. Though only a fragment survives, its presence evokes the bustling markets and refined tastes of medieval Baghdad or Basra, centers of cultural exchange along Silk Road trade routes. The splash glazing technique—where sli...