Lamp
Unknown Artist
13th–14th century
Medium
Earthenware; molded and glazed
Dimensions
H. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Herbert E. Winlock, 1941
Accession Number
41.23.2
Art Historical Context
This delicate earthenware lamp, crafted by an unknown artist in the th–14th century exemplifies the refined ceramics of the Islamic world during the medieval period. Standing just 4¼ inches (10.8 cm) tall, it was likely used for oil lighting in homes, mosques, or palaces, where such vessels provided both practical illumination and aesthetic charm. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Art Department, it entered the collection as a gift from Herbert E. Winlock in 1941. The lamp's molded form and vibrant glazing highlight advanced techniques in Islamic pottery production. Artisans pressed ...