Stucco Fragment
Unknown Artist
probably 8th–12th century
Medium
Stucco; carved, painted (?)
Dimensions
H. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm) W. 3/8 in. (1 cm) D. 9/16 in. (1.5 cm)
Classification
Stucco
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1948
Accession Number
48.101.1017
Art Historical Context
This delicate stucco fragment, likely from the 8th to 12th century, offers a glimpse into the refined architectural artistry of the Islamic world. Carved and possibly painted, it measures just 1 3/8 inches high, hinting at its role as part of a larger decorative ensemble—perhaps adorning a mosque, palace, or madrasa. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1948, it resides in the Metropolitan Museum of's Islamic Art department, such fragments preserve the ephemeral beauty of medieval structures. In Islamic architecture during this expansive era—from the Abbasid Caliphate to the Seljuk period—stuc...