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
28.99.607
Art Historical Context
These delicate fragments, dating to around 1150–1250, offer a tantalizing glimpse into medieval craftsmanship from either Europe or the Middle East. Composed of glass and ceramic, the shards—ranging from a mere ¾ inch to 3¼ inches in height—likely once formed part of elegant vessels used for everyday or ceremonial purposes. Displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's and Armor Department, they highlight the Met's eclectic collection, where such artifacts bridge domestic life and material culture of the era. Glassmaking during this period was a sophisticated art, often involving intricate bl...