Fragment of a Jar
Unknown Artist
9th century
Medium
Earthenware; unglazed
Dimensions
H. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm) Diam. 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Noel E. Baker, 1952
Accession Number
52.130.11
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate fragment of a jar, dating to the 9th century, offers a glimpse into the everyday world of Islamic artisans during the Abbasid era. Crafted in the Islamic world—likely regions like Iraq, Syria, or Persia—it represents the humble yet essential ceramics produced for household use, such as storing spices, oils, or water. Though only a small portion survives (measuring just 1 3/8 inches high and 2 1/8 inches in diameter), evokes the bustling pottery workshops that supplied caliphal courts and common markets alike. Made of unglazed earthenware, the fragment highlights a practical anci...