Fragment

Art Historical Context

This delicate fragment, hailing from the 13th century exemplifies the pinnacle of Islamic ceramic artistry. Crafted in stonepaste—a fine, white-bodied material developed by artisans in the medieval Islamic world to imitate Chinese porcelain—it measures just 1 3/8 inches high and weighs a mere 0.2 ounces. The surface bears luster-painting, a sophisticated technique where metallic oxides fired in a reducing atmosphere create a shimmering, iridescent reminiscent of gold or moonlight. Lusterware like this flourished in regions such as Iraq, Syria, and Iran during the Abbasid and Seljuk eras, ador...