Handle or Ornament or Tool
Unknown Artist
8th–13th century
Medium
Stone; carved and pierced
Dimensions
H. 1 in. (2.6 cm) W. 11/16 in. (1.7 cm) D. 3/8 in. (1 cm)
Classification
Stone
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1948
Accession Number
48.101.239
Art Historical Context
This delicate stone object, titled *Handle or Ornament or Tool*, hails from the Islamic world between the 8th and 13th centuries—a golden era of artistic innovation under dynasties like the Abbasids Fatimids. Craft from stone through meticulous carving and piercing techniques, measures just 1 inch (2.6 cm) high, making it a marvel of miniature artistry. Such precision reflects the Islamic tradition of transforming everyday materials into objects of beauty and utility, where even small implements could embody spiritual and aesthetic refinement. The pierced design suggests intricate openwork, a...