Fragment of a Plate
Unknown Artist
8th–13th century
Medium
Jet; incised
Dimensions
H. 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm) W. 2 3/8 in. (6.1 cm) D. 1 in. (2.5 cm)
Classification
Stone
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1948
Accession Number
48.101.255
Art Historical Context
This delicate fragment of a plate, from jet—a dense, black fossilized wood prized for its lustrous polish—offers a glimpse into Islamic artistry from the 8th to 13th centuries. Measuring just over 4 inches high, this small piece (H. 4 1/8 in., W. 2 3/8 in., D. 1 in.) survives from the expansive Islamic world, where such materials were sourced for their durability and aesthetic appeal. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic department, it entered the collection via the Rogers Fund in 1948. The artwork's incised decoration—fine lines carved into the jet's surface—highlights the prec...