Ornaments, 14
Unknown Artist
Medium
Lead
Dimensions
Height: 1 in. (2.5 cm)
Classification
Miscellaneous-Lead
Culture
Greek, Laconian
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of A. J. B. Wace, 1924
Accession Number
24.195.143
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Greek Roman Art department, these tiny *Ornaments, 14* hail from ancient Laconian Greece, the rugged region of Sparta known for its warrior culture and austere Spartan lifestyle. Crafted from lead and standing just 1 inch (2.5 cm) tall, delicate objects—gifted to the museum in 1924 by archaeologist A. J. B. Wace—offer a glimpse into the everyday artistry of the ancient Greeks. Lead, a soft and malleable metal, was prized in antiquity for small-scale items like these, which were likely cast or hammered into shape. Though their exact form remains a my...