Glass Fragment
Unknown Artist
12th–14th century
Medium
Pot-metal glass, vitreous paint
Dimensions
Overall: 3 3/4 x 3 3/4 in (9.5 x 9.5 cm)
Classification
Glass-Stained
Culture
French
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Ella Brummer, in memory of her husband, Ernest Brummer, 1977
Accession Number
1977.346.4
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Glass Fragment* from 12th–14th France offers a glimpse into the luminous world of medieval stained glass, a hallmark of Gothic art. Created by an unknown artisan, this small square—measuring just 3 3/4 x 3 3/4 inches—likely originated from a larger cathedral window, where such panels transformed sunlight into vibrant narratives for worshippers. Crafted using pot-metal glass where metallic oxides are fused into the molten glass to create rich, translucent colors, the piece was enhanced with vitreous paint—fired-on details like bold outlines and shading—for intricate definition. ...