Glass Fragment

Art Historical Context

This delicate *Glass Fragment*, dating to the 13th–14th century, offers a glimpse into the luminous world of medieval European stained glass. Crafted pot metal glass—a technique where metal oxides like copper or cobalt were fused directly into molten glass to create vibrant, enduring colors—this small piece (6 1/4 x 3 1/4 in.) once contributed to the grand stained-glass windows of Gothic cathedrals and churches. These windows transformed sunlight into a kaleidoscope of jewel tones, serving as "poor man's Bibles" by illustrating sacred stories for worshippers who couldn't read. In the Medieval...