Stucco Fragment
Unknown Artist
probably 8th–12th century
Medium
Stucco; carved, painted (?)
Dimensions
H. 1 3/16 in. (3 cm) W. 1 in. (2.5 cm) D. 3/16 in. (.5 cm)
Classification
Stucco
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1948
Accession Number
48.101.595
Art Historical Context
This delicate stucco fragment, likely carved and painted from the 8th to 12th century, a glimpse into the refined world of early Islamic architecture. Measuring just 1 3/16 inches high, 1 inch wide, and /16 inches deep, is a tiny survivor from a grander structure—perhaps a palace wall, mosque niche, or mihrab. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1948, it resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic Art department, where such fragments evoke the splendor of medieval Islamic craftsmanship. Stucco, a molded plaster made from lime, sand, and water, was a versatile and affordable medium in ...