Stucco Fragment

Art Historical Context

This delicate stucco fragment, likely carved between the 8th and 12th centuries, a glimpse into the refined architectural artistry of the early Islamic world. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art department, it measures just 5.5 inches long, suggesting it was once part of a larger decorative ensemble adorning mosques, palaces, or madrasas across regions like Iran, Iraq, or Central Asia during the Abbasid or Seljuk eras. Stucco, a molded and carved plaster made from gypsum or lime, was prized in Islamic architecture for its and affordability. Artisans skillfully subtracted ma...