Fragment of a Bowl
Unknown Artist
14th–15th century
Medium
Earthenware; incised decoration through white slip and coloring under transparent glaze.
Dimensions
H. 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm) L. 7 1/16 in. (18 cm) W. 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1913
Accession Number
13.190.111
Art Historical Context
This delicate fragment of a bowl, to the 14th–15th, offers a glimpse into the refined world of Islamic ceramics. Crafted from earthenware, it features incised decoration carved through a white slip—a technique known as sgraffito—revealing the underlying clay body. Vibrant coloring was then applied before a transparent glaze sealed the surface, creating a luminous,-like effect that was prized in the Islamic world. Produced during a golden age of pottery production across regions like Persia, Syria, and Egypt, such bowls were everyday objects elevated to art through masterful craftsmanship. The...