Column Shaft
Unknown Artist
late 12th century
Medium
Stone
Dimensions
Overall: 41 x 6 in. (104.1 x 15.3 cm)
Classification
Sculpture-Architectural
Culture
French
Department
The Cloisters
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Cloisters Collection, 1925
Accession Number
25.120.1018
Art Historical Context
This elegant stone column shaft, hailing from late 12th-century France, stands as a testament to the architectural ambitions of medieval builders. Measuring 41 x 6 inches (104.1 x 15.3 cm), it once formed part of a grand structure—likely a cathedral, abbey, or cloisterwhere such elements bore the weight of soaring vaults and arches. Crafted by an unknown artist, it the transition from Romanesque to the emerging Gothic style, characterized by proportions that allowed for taller, more luminous interiors. Carved from durable stone, the shaft highlights masterful masonry techniques honed over gen...