Ferret
Unknown Artist
6th–7th century
Medium
Copper alloy, silvered
Dimensions
Overall: 1 13/16 x 1/2 x 3/16 in. (4.6 x 1.3 x 0.4 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Copper alloy
Culture
Frankish
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.191.228
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Medieval collection, this diminutive "Ferret" figurine, crafted by an unknown Frankish artist in the 6th–7th, exemplifies the exquisite metalwork of the Meroving period. Measuring just 1 13/16 x 1/2 x 3/16 inches, the copper alloy piece was enhanced with silvering—a technique that applied a thin silver layer to mimic more precious metals, lending it a luxurious sheen despite its modest material. Likely a decorative mount or ornament, its lifelike form captures the agile ferret, a creature symbolizing cunning and hunting prowess in early medieval lore...