Mordant
Unknown Artist
early 15th century
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H. 5/8 in. (1.6 cm); L. 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm); thickness 1/8 in. (0.3 cm); Wt. 0.6 oz. (16 g)
Classification
Miscellaneous-Buckles & Ornament
Culture
French
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Bashford Dean, 1920
Accession Number
20.152.86
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor collection, this delicate bronze *Mordant*—a French term for buckle or clasp—dates to the early 15th century. just 5/8 inch high and nearly 3 long, this tiny ornament (weighing a mere 0.6 ounces) exemplifies the exquisite metalwork of late medieval France. Likely used to secure belts, straps on armor, or clothing, its slender form and precise proportions highlight the era's demand for both functional and decorative accessories amid the Hundred Years' War. Crafted in bronze, a durable alloy favored for its casting qualities, the mordan...