Fragment of a Tile
Unknown Artist
11th century
Medium
Earthenware; graffiato decoration under turquoise blue glaze
Dimensions
H. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm) W. 7 7/8 in. (20 cm) D. 3 9/16 in. (9 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Tiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1940
Accession Number
40.170.655
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Fragment of a Tile* the 11th century a glimpse into the sophisticated world of Islamic ceramics. Craft from earthenware, it graffiato decoration—a where artisans scratched intricate designs through a contrasting slip layer to reveal the clay body beneath, then coated it with a luminous turquoise blue glaze. Measuring just 6 1/2 by 7 7/8 inches, this surviving piece, now in the Metropolitan Museum of's Islamic Art department (acquired via the Rogers in 1940), hints at larger architectural panels that once adorned mosques, palaces, or public buildings. The turquoise glaze, a hal...