Vase
Unknown Artist
12th century
Medium
Stonepaste; luster-painted on opaque white glaze under transparent colorless glaze
Dimensions
H. 4 3/4 in. (11.4 cm) Diam. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm) Wt. 11.9 oz. (337.4 g)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1920
Accession Number
20.102
Art Historical Context
This delicate 12th-century vase the Islamic world exemplifies the pinnacle of medieval ceramic innovation. Crafted from stonepaste—a composite of quartz, clay, and glass frit that mimicked the prized porcelain of China—this small vessel stands just 4 3/4 inches tall with a matching diameter, weighing a mere 11.9 ounces. Its form is elegantly proportioned, perfect for holding perfumes, spices, or flowers in a refined household. What sets this vase apart is its masterful luster-painting technique: designs were painted with metallic compounds onto an opaque white glaze, then covered with a trans...