Fragment of a Bowl
Unknown Artist
14th–15th century
Medium
Stonepaste; painted under transparent glaze
Dimensions
H. 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm) L. 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm) D. 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm) Wt. 5.4 oz. (153.1 g)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1907
Accession Number
07.238.26
Art Historical Context
This delicate fragment of a bowl, dating to the 14th–15th century, offers a glimpse into the refined world of Islamic ceramics from the medieval Middle East. Crafted during a golden age of artistic innovation under dynasties like the Timurids or Mamluks, such vessels were everyday luxuries in households, mosques, and palaces, blending functionality with exquisite decoration. Though only a portion survives—measuring just 1⅝ inches high and weighing a mere 5.4 ounces—it evokes the sophistication of urban centers like Damascus or Tabriz, where potters pushed the boundaries of clay to rival import...