Model of a House
Unknown Artist
12th–early 13th century
Medium
Stonepaste; molded in relief
Dimensions
H. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm) W. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Grinnell Collection, Bequest of William Milne Grinnell, 1920
Accession Number
20.120.235
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate **Model of a House**, in the 12th to early 13th century offers a charming glimpse into Islamic domestic architecture from the medieval Middle East. Made of stonepaste—a fine, white fritware ceramic developed by Islamic artisans to mimic Chinese porcelain—this miniature structure measures just 1¾ inches high and 5½ inches wide. Molded in relief, it features raised designs that bring architectural details and motifs, including birds, to life with remarkable precision. Stonepaste ceramics like this one highlight the ingenuity of potters during the Seljuk era, when workshops in regi...