Foliate Medallion

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Medieval Art collection of the Metropolitan Museum of, the *Foliate Med* is a delicate stained glass roundel created in France around 1320. Measuring just 9 x 1/4 inches, this petite artwork exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of Gothic-era glassmakers. Its design features intricate leafy motifs, a common decorative element that evoked the beauty of nature amid the soaring cathedrals of medieval Europe. Stained glass like this was a pinnacle of medieval artistry, produced by embedding metallic oxides into molten glass for vibrant, jewel-like colors, then assembling pieces w...