S-Shaped Brooch
Unknown Artist
6th century
Medium
Copper alloy, garnet
Dimensions
Overall: 1 9/16 x 1 1/16 x 3/8 in. (4 x 2.7 x 0.9 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Copper alloy
Culture
Frankish
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.192.2
Art Historical Context
This exquisite S-Shaped Brooch crafted in the 6th century an unknown Frankish artisan, the masterful metalwork of early medieval Europe Measuring just 1 9/16 x 1 1/16 x 3/8 inches, it was fashioned from copper alloy inlaid with vibrant garnet stones, creating a striking contrast of warm metals and deep red gems. Such brooches were essential fasteners for cloaks and garments, blending practicality with personal adornment. Hailing from Frankish culture during the Merovingian period—a time when the Franks consolidated power in post-Roman Gaul—this piece reflects the fusion of Germanic traditions...