Morse with Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata
Unknown Artist
mid-14th century
Medium
Gilded copper, silver, translucent enamel, parchment, glass gems
Dimensions
Overall: 5 1/16 x 5 1/16 x 1 9/16 in. (12.9 x 12.9 x 4 cm) Rock Crystal center: 2 11/16 x 3/8 in. (6.9 x 1 cm)
Classification
Enamels-Basse taille
Culture
Italian
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.190.767
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Morse with Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata*, crafted by an unknown Italian artist in the mid-14th century, as a ornate clasp for fastening a cope—a ceremonial vestment worn by clergy during Mass. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Medieval Art department (gift of J. Pierpont, 1917), its square form (just over 5 inches across) a pivotal moment in the life of Saint Francis of: the reception of Christ's stigmata wounds in 1224, symbolizing divine favor and profound spiritual union. The morse exemplifies *basse-taille* enamel, a sophisticated technique where intricate lo...