Scissors

Art Historical Context

Step into the world of early medieval Europe with these remarkable 7th-century Frank scissors, a humble yet revealing artifact from the Metropolitan Museum Art's Medieval Art collection Crafted from iron and measuring just 5 3/4 x 1 1/4 x 1/2 inches, this compact tool exemplifies the everyday ingenuity of the Merovingian Franks, who dominated much of western Europe during this era. Donated by J. Pier Morgan in 1917, it offers a tangible glimpse into a time when such metalwork was both functional and finely executed. Forged from iron—a material whose working required considerable skill in smel...