Earring
Unknown Artist
7th century
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: 2 11/16 x 3/16 in. (6.9 x 0.5 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
Frankish
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.193.3
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver earring, crafted by an unknown Frankish artisan in the 7th, offers a glimpse into the refined world of early medieval Europe Measuring just 2 11/16 x 3/16 inches (6.9 x 0.5 cm), its delicate scale suggests it was designed for personal adornment, worn by a member of the elite Frankish society during the Merovingian. The Franks, a Germanic people who dominated much of western Europe, were known for their skilled metalworking, and this piece exemplifies period's emphasis on portable luxury goods. Silver as a medium held significant value in Frankish culture, symbolizing wea...