Disk Brooch

Art Historical Context

This exquisite Disk Brooch, crafted by an unknown Frankish artisan around 550–650 CE, the masterful metalwork of the early medieval Merovingian period. Measuring just 1 x 3/8 inches (2.5 x 0.9 cm), this tiny jewel was likely used to fasten cloaks or garments, serving as both a practical accessory and a badge of elite status among the Frankish nobility in what is now France and Germany. Fashioned from copper alloy with silver inlays, partial gilding, garnets, and reflective foil, the brooch sophisticated techniques like garnet cloisonné—where gemstones are meticulously cut and set into cells, backed by foil to amplify their fiery glow. Gilding added a luxurious golden sheen, highlighting the Frankish love for opulent, shimmering surfaces that evoked wealth and prestige. A gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917, this brooch offers a window into Frankish society, where such intricate adornments bridged pagan traditions and emerging Christian influences. Its survival speaks to the enduring skill of medieval craftsmen, turning humble copper into wearable treasure.