Bow Brooch
Unknown Artist
first half 6th century
Medium
Silver-gilt, garnets cabochons
Dimensions
Overall: 2 5/16 x 4 3/16 x 1/2 in. (5.8 x 10.6 x 1.3 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
Ostrogothic
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.192.149
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of the Ostrogoths with this exquisite *Bow Brooch*, a piece of metalwork from the first half of 6th century.ed by an unknown artist, this small yet striking accessory—measuring just 2 5/16 x 4 3/16 x 1/2 inches likely used to fasten cloaks garments, embodying the practical elegance of early medieval jewelry. Hailing from the Ostrogothic culture, which flourished in Italy under King Theodoric after the fall of Rome, it reflects the fusion of Roman sophistication and Germanic craftsmanship during the Migration Period. The brooch's medium of silver-gilt, adorned with cabochon...