Fragment of a Bowl
Unknown Artist
9th–10th century
Medium
Earthenware; reddish body, white slip with yellow black decoration under transparent glaze
Dimensions
H. 6 1/4 in. (15.8 cm) W. 4 in. (10.2 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1940
Accession Number
40.170.511
Art Historical Context
This delicate fragment of a bowl, dating to the 9th–10th century, offers a glimpse into the vibrant ceramic traditions of the Islamic world during the Abbasid era. Crafted from earthenware with a characteristic reddish body, it exemplifies early advancements in pottery production across regions like Iraq and Persia. Though only a portion survives—measuring 6¼ inches high and 4 inches wide—it hints at the elegant, functional vessels that graced dining tables and households of the time. The artwork's medium is particularly noteworthy: a white slip (a liquid clay coating) forms the base for yell...