Plaque or Ornament
Unknown Artist
9th–10th century
Medium
Bone; incised and inlaid with paint
Dimensions
Ht. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm) W. 1 7/16 (3.7 cm) D. 1/8 in. (0.3 cm)
Classification
Ivories and Bone
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1948
Accession Number
48.101.210
Art Historical Context
This delicate plaque or ornament, crafted from bone in the 9th–10th century, exemplifies the refined artistry of the Islamic world during the Abbasid. Measuring just 1¼ inches high and 1⅜ inches wide, its petite scale suggests it adorned personal items like jewelry, belts, or furniture, blending everyday utility with exquisite decoration. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Islamic Art department it entered the collection through the Rogers Fund in 1948The unknown artist employed incising—precise carving of fine lines into the bone surface—followed by inlaying with paint to create vibrant ...