Fragment
Unknown Artist
12th–13th century
Medium
Stonepaste; slip painted, glazed
Dimensions
H. 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) W. 2 9/16 in. (6.5 cm) D. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm) Wt. 1.5 oz. (42.5 g)
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
60.23.55
Art Historical Context
This delicate ceramic fragment, dating to the 12th–13th century, offers a glimpse into the sophisticated world of Islamic art. Crafted frompaste—a composite of quartz, clay, and frit that mimicked the prized translucency of Chinese porcelain—it hails from the medieval Islamic heartlands, likely regions like Iran or Syria. At just 3/4 inch high and weighing a mere 1.5 ounces, this tiny shard (H. 3/4 in.; W. 2 9/16 in.; D. 2 1/2 in.) may once have adorned a vessel, tile, or architectural element, evoking the opulence of Abbasid or Seljuk-era courts. The artwork's medium shines through its techn...