Tile with Niche Design
Unknown Artist
12th century
Medium
Stonepaste; molded, glazed in transparent turquoise
Dimensions
H. 16 3/4 in. (42.5 cm) W. 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm) D. 1 in. (2.5 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Tiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915
Accession Number
30.95.184
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Tile with Niche Design*, crafted by an unknown artist in the12th century, exemplifies pinnacle of Islamic ceramic artistry. Made from stonepaste—a composite of quartz, clay, and frit that allowed artisans to create a fine, porcelain-like body—this molded tile features a graceful niche motif, likely evoking the architectural mihrab, or prayer niche, found in mosques. Its transparent turquoise glaze imparts a luminous, jewel-like quality, a hallmark of medieval Islamic potters who mastered vibrant, durable finishes through high-temperature firing techniques. Hailing from the Isl...