Lamp
Unknown Artist
before 1271
Medium
Earthenware
Dimensions
H. 2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm); W. 4 5/8 in. (11.7 cm); D. 3 1/8 in. ( 8 cm)
Classification
Miscellaneous
Culture
Syrian
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Clarence H. Mackay, Archer M. Huntington, Stephen H. P. Pell and Bashford Dean, 1928
Accession Number
28.99.16
Art Historical Context
This delicate earthenware lamp, crafted by an unknown Syrian artist before 127, offers a glimpse into everyday life in medieval Syria. Measuring just over 2 inches tall and4.5 inches wide, its compact form—typical of oil lamps from the Islamic world—suggest it was designed for portable illumination, perhaps in homes, mosques, or travelers' camps. Made from fired clay, earthenware was a practical, affordable medium prized for its durability and ease of production, allowing artisans to shape simple, functional vessels on potter's wheels before low-temperature firing. Dating to the Ayyubid or ea...