Jar
Unknown Artist
11th–12th century
Medium
Earthenware; unglazed, molded, and incised
Dimensions
H. 4 5/8 in. (11.7 cm) Diam. 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George C. Miles, 1962
Accession Number
62.227.1
Art Historical Context
This modest yet elegant jar, crafted by an unknown artist in the 11th–12th century, exemplifies the refined ceramic traditions of the Islamic world. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Islamic Art, it measures just 4 5/8 inches tall and 4 7/8 inches in diameter, suggesting it served as a small storage vessel for spices, oils, or cosmetics in daily life. Gifted to the museum in 1962 by George C. Miles, it offers a glimpse into the artistry of a dynamic era when Islamic artisans across regions like Persia and Central Asia were innovating in pottery production. Made of ungla...