Glaze Clump
Unknown Artist
11th–12th century
Medium
Fragments of quartz, traces of copper glaze, liquified, and adhered pieces of earthenware
Dimensions
H. 2 5/16 in. (5.8 cm) W. 2 9/16 in. (6.5 cm) D. 1 3/16 in. (3 cm) 48.101.54: 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm) 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm) 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1948
Accession Number
48.101.53
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Islamic Art collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, *Glaze Clump* (11th–12th century) offers a rare glimpse into the experimental world of medieval ceramic production. This small artifact, acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1948, measures just a few inches across and consists of fused fragments—quartz pieces, traces of vibrant copper glaze, and liquified earthenware. Far from a finished vessel, it captures a moment of transformation, likely born from the intense heat of a kiln where glazes melted and adhered in unexpected ways. In the golden age of Islamic ceramics, arti...