Column

Art Historical Context

This elegant white marble column, crafted by an unknown artist in the14th century, stands as a testament to the refined artistry of the Islamic world. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic department and classified as a sculpture, exemplifies the use of marble—a prized material valued for its luminous quality, durability, and cool tactility in both sacred and secular spaces. Donated as a gift from The Hearst Foundation in1956, it invites visitors to appreciate the subtlety of form in Islamic sculptural traditions. Dating to the medieval Islamic era, such columns were integral to ...