Hair Ornament, One of a Pair
Unknown Artist
12th–13th century
Medium
Gold; cast, fabricated, engraved, with a copper alloy inner sleeve, decorated with twisted wire and granulation
Dimensions
H. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm) W. 13/16 in. (2.1 cm)
Classification
Jewelry
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1952
Accession Number
52.32.9
Art Historical Context
This exquisite hair ornament, one of a from the 12th–13th, hails from the Islamic world and exemplifies the era's masterful goldsmithing. Crafted in gold with a copper alloy inner sleeve for structural support, it measures a delicate 2¾ inches (7 cm) height and 13/16 inch (2.1 cm) wide. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Islamic Art Department (Rogers Fund, 1952), it reflects the opulence of medieval Islamic jewelry, often worn by elite women to adorn elaborate hairstyles during social or ceremonial occasions. The ornament's artistry shines through advanced techniques: casting and f...