Miniature Square-Headed Brooch
Unknown Artist
first half 6th century
Medium
Silver-gilt, niello, inlays lost
Dimensions
Overall: 7/8 x 1 13/16 x 3/8 in. (2.2 x 4.6 x 1 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
Anglo-Saxon
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.191.49
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Miniature Square-Headed Brooch, in the first half of the 6th century by an unknown Anglo-Saxon artisan, exemplifies the masterful metalwork of early medieval England. Measuring just 7/8 x 1 13/16 x 3/8 inches, its petite scale belies its intricate design, typical of square-headed brooches worn to fasten cloaks or adorn garments. Made of silver-gilt—silver coated with a thin layer of gold for a luxurious sheen—the piece once featured niello inlays, a technique where black silver sulfide was engraved into the metal, fired, and polished for striking contrast. Sadly, the colorful in...