Saucer

Art Historical Context

This delicate 18th-century sa, crafted from stonepaste—a fine ceramic body developed in the Islamic world as a porcelain substitute—exemplifies the exquisite pottery traditions of the period. Measuring just 1 inch high and 5⅛ inches in diameter, its lightweight form (2.8 oz.) made it ideal for everyday use, perhaps holding tea, coffee, or sweets in bustling households. The vibrant polychrome decoration, painted beneath a transparent glaze before firing, ensured the colors remained vivid and durable, a hallmark technique that protected intricate designs from wear. Housed in the Metropolitan Mu...