Star-Shaped Tile

Art Historical Context

This exquisite star-shaped tile, crafted by an unknown artist in the half of the 14 century, exemplifies the pinnacle of Islamic ceramic artistry. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Islamic Art (acquired through the Rogers Fund in 8), it measures 7 3/4 inches wide features delicate floral motifs, a hallmark of the period's decorative elegance. Such tiles were integral to architectural splendor, often adorning mosques, madrasas, and palaces across the Islamic world, from Iran to the Levant. Made from stonepaste—a composite of quartz, clay, and frit developed by Islamic po...