Ka'ba Tile
ca. 1720–30
Medium
Stonepaste; polychrome painted under transparent glaze
Dimensions
H: 13.8 in. (35 cm) W: 10.3 in. (26.1 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Tiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of John and Fausta Eskenazi, in memory of Victor H. Eskenazi, 2012
Accession Number
2012.337
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Ka'ba Tile*, around 1720–30 by the skilled Ottoman artisans Osman ibn Mehmed and `Abdullah Mehmed, the sacred Black Cube of Mecca—the holiest site in Islam. Produced during the height of the Ottoman Empire, tiles adorned mosques, mausolea, and royal pavilions, serving as visual pilgrimages for the faithful who could not journey to the Hajj. Measuring 13.8 by 10.3 inches, its depiction of the Ka'ba's architectural grandeur evokes spiritual reverence through intricate architectural details and vibrant hues. Crafted from stonepaste—a durable ceramic body favored in Islamic potter...
About the Artist
Osman Ibn Mehmed|`Abdullah Mehmed (Turkish| ) · 0018 | –0018 |
Turkish, active first half 18th century|