One of a Pair of Gold Earrings with Garnets
Unknown Artist
second half 8th century
Medium
Gold, garnets with foil backings, silver studs/rivets
Dimensions
Overall: 1 13/16 x 1 3/4 x 1/2 in. (4.6 x 4.5 x 1.3 cm) bead: 13/16 x 1/2 in. (2 x 1.3 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Gold
Culture
Frankish
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.191.1
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of 8th-century Frankish with *One of a Pair of Earrings with Garnets a exquisite example of medieval metalwork from the Metropolitan Museum Art. Crafted in the second half of the800s, this delicate piece—measuring just 1 13/16 x 1 3/4 inches—features shimmering gold set with vibrant garnets, enhanced by foil backings that amplify their fiery glow through light reflection. Silver studs and rivets secure the faceted stones and a small bead, showcasing the meticulous craftsmanship of an unknown artisan. These earrings, gifted to the Met by J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917, ...