Pendant with St. George and The Dragon

Art Historical Context

This exquisite pendant, dating to around 1470, depicts timeless legend of St. George slaying the dragon, a motif rich in medieval symbolism. Crafted in silver with parcel gilding—where thin sheets of gold are applied selectively to highlight key areas—the piece measures just over 2 inches tall, making it a delicate personal adornment likely worn as jewelry or a devotional talisman. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Medieval Art department, it hails from Swiss or German, reflecting the era's masterful metalwork traditions. In late 15th-century Europe, St. George was a beloved patron saint of soldiers and chivalric orders, his dragon-slaying triumph embodying Christian virtue over evil. Such pendants were popular among the devout and nobility, blending piety with fashion in an age when wearable art served as both protection and status symbol. The intricate repoussé technique, where metal is hammered from the reverse to create raised figures, showcases the artisan's skill in capturing dynamic motion on a miniature scale. Though by an unknown artist, this Rogers Fund acquisition exemplifies the cultural fusion of Gothic devotion and emerging Renaissance detail, inviting us to ponder the faith that hung close to its wearer's heart.