Fragment of a Bowl
Unknown Artist
12th–13th century
Medium
Stonepaste; painted on opaque white ground under transparent glaze
Dimensions
Max. H. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm) Max. Diam. 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1910
Accession Number
10.44.8
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate fragment of a bowl, to the 12th–13th century, hails from the vibrant world of Islamic, where artisans pushed the boundaries of pottery-making. Crafted from stonepaste—a composite of quartz, clay, and glass frit—this medium was a clever Islamic innovation to mimic the translucency of Chinese porcelain which was highly prized but unavailable locally. The surface features painting on an opaque white ground fired under a transparent glaze, creating a luminous, durable finish that protected intricate designs while allowing colors to shine through. Though only a portion survives (meas...