Stucco Fragment
Unknown Artist
probably 8th–12th century
Medium
Stucco; carved
Dimensions
H. 13/16 in. (2 cm) W. 13/16 in. (2 cm) D. 3/8 in. (1 cm)
Classification
Stucco
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1948
Accession Number
48.101.1083
Art Historical Context
This delicate stucco fragment, carved by an unknown artist around the 8th–12th century, offers a glimpse into the refined artistry of early Islamic architecture. Measuring just 13/16 inches square and 3/8 inch deep, it is a surviving remnant likely from a larger decorative ensemble in a mosque, palace, or. Stucco, a versatile plaster-like material made from gypsum or lime, was prized in the Islamic world for its workability, allowing artisans to create intricate low-relief carvings that adorned walls, arches, and niches. During this formative period of Islamic art—spanning the Abbasid Calipha...