Inscribed Stele
Unknown Artist
3rd–12th century
Medium
Limestone; incised
Dimensions
H. 13 3/4 in. (34.9 cm) W. 11 7/16 in. (29.1 cm) D. 4 5/16 in. (11 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1910
Accession Number
10.176.6
Art Historical Context
This inscribed stele, carved from limestone and dating to the expansive period between the 3rd and 12th centuries, stands as a poignant artifact from the Islamic world. Measuring about 14 inches tall, 11 inches wide, and4 inches deep, its modest size belies its role as a durable memorial or commemorative marker. The incised inscriptions—precisely carved into the stone's surface—likely record names, dates, prayers, or Quranic verses a common practice in early Islamic funerary and dedicatory traditions. In the Department of Islamic Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, acquired through the Rog...