Ewer

Date:: late 12th–first half 13th century

Geography:: Attributed to Syria, Raqqa

Medium:: Stonepaste; underglaze painted in blue, luster-painted on transparent glaze

Dimensions:: H. 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm)
Max. Diam. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm)

Classification:: Ceramics

Credit Line:: Henry G. Leberthon Collection, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. A. Wallace Chauncey, 1957

Accession Number:: 57.61.1

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 454

Nineteenth-century antiquarians’ fascination with The Thousand and One Nights and its 9th-century protagonist, Harun al‑Rashid, provoked interest in the Syrian city of Raqqa, where this Abbasid caliph once resided, and in the ceramics unearthed there. These prized objects date to the Ayyubid period, however, not Harun’s time. Recent study confirms that Raqqa was an important ceramics center, especially in the first part of the twelfth century, but other centers produced so‑called Raqqa ware as well.

Henry G. Leberthon, Hempstead, NY (by 1931–d. 1939; bequeathed to Mrs. Chauncey); Louise Ruxton Chauncey, New York (1939–57; gifted to MMA)

New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Ceramic Art of the Near East," 1931, no. 160.

Museum für Islamische Kunst, Pergamonmuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. "The Arts of Islam. Masterpieces from the M.M.A.," June 15, 1981–August 8, 1981, no. 46.

New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "The Nature of Islamic Ornament Part II: Vegetal Patterns," September 10, 1998–January 10, 1999, no catalogue.

Toronto. Aga Khan Museum. "Syria: An Unbroken History," October 15, 2016–February 26, 2017.

Dimand, Maurice S. "The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, May 12 to June 28, 1931." In Loan Exhibition of Ceramic Art of the Near East. New York, 1931. no. 160, p. 37, ill. pl. 160 (b/w).

Dimand, Maurice S. "New Accessions of Islamic Art." Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin vol. 16 (April 1958). pp. 228, 235, ill. p. 235 (b/w).

Lukens, Marie G. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide to the Collections: Islamic Art. vol. 9. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1965. p. 12, ill. fig. 21.

Dimand, Maurice S., and Jean Mailey. Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1973. p. 16, ill. fig. 24 (b/w).

"Masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York." In The Arts of Islam. Berlin, 1981. no. 46, pp. 126-127, ill. p. 127 (b/w).

Jenkins-Madina, Marilyn. "Ceramics of Ayyubid Syria." In Raqqa Revisited. New York; New Haven: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2006. pp. 140, 173, ill. MMA25 (color).

Timelines
The Eastern Mediterranean, 1000-1400 A.D.

Raqqa Revisited: Ceramics of Ayyubid Syria

Department

Islamic Art (15,055)

Object Type / Material

Geographic Location

Date / Era

A.D. 1000–1400 (6,905)

Jar

Artist: Date: late 12th–first half 13th century
Accession Number: 48.113.15 Date: late 12th–first half 13th century Medium: Stonepaste; underglaze painted in blue, luster-painted on transparent glaze Accession: 48.113.15 On view in:Gallery 454

Jar

Artist: Date: late 12th–early 13th century
Accession Number: 56.185.15 Date: late 12th–early 13th century Medium: Stonepaste; underglaze painted under transparent turquoise glaze. Accession: 56.185.15 On view in:Gallery 454

Footed Bowl

Artist: Date: late 12th–first half 13th century
Accession Number: 48.113.11 Date: late 12th–first half 13th century Medium: Stonepaste; underglaze painted in blue, luster-painted on transparent glaze Accession: 48.113.11 On view in:Gallery 454

Ceramic Lantern

Artist: Date: early 13th century
Accession Number: 91.1.138 Date: early 13th century Medium: Stonepaste; underglaze painted in blue, luster-painted on transparent glaze Accession: 91.1.138 On view in:Gallery 454

Luster Bowl

Artist: Date: late 12th–first half 13th century
Accession Number: 48.113.5 Date: late 12th–first half 13th century Medium: Stonepaste; underglaze painted in blue and turquoise, luster-painted on transparent glaze Accession: 48.113.5 On view in:Gallery 454