Tabouret with Winged Griffins and Benedictions
Unknown Artist
12th century
Medium
Earthenware; molded, modeled, glazed in turquoise
Dimensions
H. 8 1/8 in. (20.6 cm) W. 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm) D. 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Henry G. Leberthon Collection, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. A. Wallace Chauncey, 1957
Accession Number
57.61.13
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming 12th-century tabouret, or low stool, from the world exemplifies the exquisite ceramics of the medieval period. Crafted from earthenware, was skillfully molded and modeled with dynamic winged griffins—mythical beasts symbolizing strength and guardianship—before being glazed in a vibrant turquoise. Measuring just over 8 inches tall, 11⅞ inches wide, and inches deep, its compact form suggests it served both practical and decorative purposes in a domestic setting, perhaps as a footrest or small table. The turquoise glaze, a hallmark of Seljuk-era pottery from regions like Persia (m...