Fragment
Unknown Artist
ca. 1150–ca. 1250
Medium
Glass, ceramic
Dimensions
greatest H. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm); smallest H. 3/4 in. (1.9 cm)
Classification
Glass-Vessels
Culture
European or Middle Eastern
Department
Arms and Armor
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
28.99.599
Art Historical Context
This delicate "Fragment" consists of small shards of glass and ceramic vessels ranging from a mere ¾ inch to 3¼ inches in height. Dating to around 1150–1250, these likely once formed part of everyday or ceremonial containers, showcasing the craftsmanship of the High Middle Ages. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor Department classified as glass vessels, they hint at discovery in archaeological contexts, perhaps alongside military artifacts from medieval sites. The uncertain European or Middle Eastern origins reflect the vibrant cultural exchanges of the Crusades era, whe...