Fragment
Unknown Artist
ca. 1150–ca. 1250
Medium
Glass, ceramic
Dimensions
L. 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm)
Classification
Glass-Vessels
Culture
European or Middle Eastern
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Clarence H. Mackay, Archer M. Huntington, Stephen H. P. Pell and Bashford Dean, 1928
Accession Number
28.99.441
Art Historical Context
This delicate fragment, dating to around 1150–1250, offers a glimpse into medieval craftsmanship from either Europe or the Middle East. Measuring just 2 1/8 inches (5.4 cm) long, it is a remnant of a glass vessel, possibly incorporating ceramic elements, highlighting the era's innovative material combinations. Such small artifacts were often part of everyday tableware, perfume bottles, or luxury items traded along bustling Silk Road routes, blending Eastern and Western influences. During the High Middle Ages, glassmaking flourished in both regions—Islamic artisans in Syria and Egypt perfected...