Heart-Shaped Plaque
Unknown Artist
7th–9th century
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
H. 5/8 in. (1.6 cm); W. 1/2 in. (1.3 cm)
Classification
Metalwork
Culture & Period
China (Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Central Asia) · Period of Tibetan Empire
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2003
Accession Number
2003.24.25
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian collection, this delicate **Heart-Shaped Plaque is a exquisite example of 7th–9th gold metalwork from China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region in Central Asia. Crafted an unknown artist during the of Tibetan Empire, the measures just 5/8 inch high and 1/2 inch wide—small enough to adorn jewelry or a garment. Its pure gold medium speaks to the era's mastery of precious metal techniques, likely involving hammering, shaping, and possibly repoussé or chasing for intricate details, though its precise form invites wonder about its heart-like silhouette. T...