Storage Jar
Unknown Artist
14th century
Medium
Stonepaste; polychrome painted under transparent glaze
Dimensions
H.11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm) Diam. 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H.O. Havemeyer Collection, Gift of Horace Havemeyer, 1941
Accession Number
41.165.45
Art Historical Context
This 14th-century storage jar crafted by an unknown artist, exemplifies the ingenuity of Islamic ceramics from the medieval Islamic world, likely the eastern Mediterranean or Iran. Standing at 11¼ inches tall with an 8¾-inch diameter, it was designed for practical use—storing grains, oils, or spices—yet transformed into a work of art through its elegant and decoration. Adorned with leaf motifs a vibrant polychrome glaze, the jar evokes the lush gardens of paradise, a recurring theme in Islamic art symbolizing abundance and divine beauty. The medium, stonepaste (also known as fritware), was a ...