Pendant with St. George and The Dragon
Unknown Artist
ca. 1470
Medium
Silver, parcel gilt
Dimensions
Overall: 2 3/16 x 15/16 x 9/16 in. (5.5 x 2.4 x 1.5 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
Swiss or German
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1974
Accession Number
1974.191.2
Tags
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 sain...