Stucco Fragment
Unknown Artist
probably 8th–12th century
Medium
Stucco (mortar); carved, painted
Dimensions
L4.5 x W 1.5x H2.5
Classification
Stucco
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1948
Accession Number
48.101.1705
Art Historical Context
This delicate stucco fragment, dating to the 8th–12th century, offers a glimpse into the opulent architectural decorations of the Islamic world during its early medieval golden age. Crafted from mortar-based stucco—a versatile, affordable medium favored in regions from Persia to North Africa and Spain—this small piece (4.5 x 1.5 x 2.5 inches) adorned a mosque, palace, or madrasa. During the Umayyad, Abbasid, and Seljuk eras, stucco became a hallmark of Islamic art, enabling intricate surface embellishments on walls, arches, and mihrabs without the permanence of stone carving. Artisans skillfu...