Copper-Alloy Faucet and Conduit
Unknown Artist
6th–7th century
Medium
Copper alloy
Dimensions
Overall: 5 1/4 x 12 3/8 x 3/16 in. (13.3 x 31.4 x 0.4 cm) faucet: 5 1/4 x 2 11/16 in. (13.3 x 6.8 cm) conduit in 2 parts: 4 1/8 x 10 3/8 x 2 5/16 in. (10.5 x 26.3 x 5.8 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Copper alloy
Culture
Byzantine
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1947
Accession Number
47.100.41a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite copper-alloy faucet and conduit, crafted in the Byzantine Empire during the 6th7th century, offers a rare glimpse into the sophisticated engineering and artistry of early medieval Constantinople. Dating to a time when the Eastern Roman Empire flourished amid grand architectural projects like Hagia Sophia, this functional metalwork piece likely served in a public bathhouse, fountain, or ecclesiastical setting, channeling water with remarkable precision. Its survival highlights the Byzantines' mastery of hydraulics, inherited from Roman traditions and refined for enduring use. Th...