Wasters
Unknown Artist
11th–12th century
Medium
Glazes
Dimensions
H. 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm) W. 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm) D. 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1948
Accession Number
48.101.54
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Islamic Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art,Wasters* is autive ceramic artifact from the 11th12th century, measuring just 1 5/8 inches high. Crafted by an unknown artist, this piece exemplifies the experimental spirit of medieval Islamic pottery workshops, likely originating from regions like Iran or Syria where glazed ceramics flourished under the Seljuk dynasty. In ceramics production, "wasters were flawed items discarded during firing—often test pieces for perfecting glazes. Here, the medium of glazes highlights innovative techniques: vibrant, translucent layers applied ov...