Fragment of a Bowl or Cup
Unknown Artist
13th–16th century
Medium
Stonepaste; painted under transparent glaze
Dimensions
H. 1 9/16 in. (4 cm) W. 3 15/16 in. (10 cm) D. 3 7/16 in. (8.7 cm) Wt. 3.1 oz. (87.893 g)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Jack A. Josephson, 1973
Accession Number
1973.79.1
Art Historical Context
This delicate fragment of a bowl or cup, dating to the 13th–16th, offers a glimpse into the refined world of Islamic ceramics. Crafted from stonepaste—a composite material of quartz, clay, and frit developed by artisans in the Islamic world to imitate the translucency of Chinese porcelain—it exemplifies the ingenuity of medieval potters from regions like Iran, Syria, or Egypt. Though only a small piece (just under 4 cm high and 10 cm wide it survives as a testament to everyday luxury in bustling trade hubs along the Silk Road. The artwork's medium shines through its technique: pigments painte...