Bell Beaker
Unknown Artist
6th–7th century
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
Overall: 4 x 2 7/8 in. (10.1 x 7.3 cm)
Classification
Glass-Vessels
Culture
Frankish
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.193.345
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Medieval Art collection of the Metropolitan Museum of, this delicate Bell Beaker exemplifies the craftsmanship of 6th–7th centuryish culture. Crafted from glass and measuring a modest 4 x 2 7/8 inches (10.1 x 7.3 cm), its bell-shaped form—wide at the mouth and tapering gracefully—suggests it was designed as a practical yet elegant drinking vessel. Donated in 1917 by the financier J. Pierpont, it offers a tangible link to the Merovingian, when the Franks ruled much of early medieval Europe. Glassmaking flourished among the Franks during this period, building on Roman traditions ...