Fragment
Unknown Artist
13th–16th century
Medium
Stonepaste; painted under transparent glaze
Dimensions
H. 1 1/16 in. (2.7 cm) W. 3 in. (7.6 cm) D. 2 7/16 in. (6.2 cm) Wt. 2.2 oz. (62.376 g)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Jack A. Josephson, 1973
Accession Number
1973.79.46
Art Historical Context
This delicate ceramic fragment, hailing from the Islamic world between the 13th and 16th centuries, offers a glimpse into the golden age of medieval Islamic artistry. Crafted from stonepaste—a sophisticated composite of quartz, white clay, and glass frit—this small piece (just over 3 inches wide) exemplifies the ingenuity of potters in regions like Iran, Syria or Egypt. Stonepaste bodies allowed for thinner walls and brighter glazes than traditional earthenware, enabling artisans to rival Chinese porcelain in translucency and refinement. Painted under a transparent glaze, the fragment likely ...