This stone is said to have been given to Ishmael by the angel Gabriel, and set into the building by Abraham's own hands.
It may be the stone referred to in Genesis 28:10-35:3; the stone that Jacob rested his head upon and had a dream of a stairway to Heaven and a communication with God. This stone was anointed by Jacob. At some later time this stone could have been transported to its current place of residence in Mecca (now part of Saudi Arabia) where it was given special honor in the house of the god of the gods of stone.
This does have a striking resemblence to the "mirror" in the above painting.
This Black Stone is now in pieces, three large parts, and smaller fragments, which are tied together with a silver band. There are several theories on the origin of the Black Stone: a meteor; lava; or basalt. Its colour is reddish black, with some red and yellow particles. Its original diameter is estimated to have been 30 cm.
There is sparse information on the Ka'ba before the time of Muhammad, but it is clear that it had for centuries been used as an important religious centre, by one or more polytheistic religion(s), which all are now disappeared. http://lexicorient.com/e.o/kaaba.htm
There have always been very strict regulations and non-Muslims are not allowed to touch the stone.
As Mary actually has her hand on the stone in the above painting, could this be a subtle message to tell us that Mary Magdalene was Muslim?
