Vessel
Unknown Artist
14th century
Medium
Copper alloy, cast
Dimensions
Overall: 9 3/16 x 7 9/16 x 5 1/2 in. (23.3 x 19.2 x 14 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Copper alloy
Culture
German (?)
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1952
Accession Number
52.46.11
Art Historical Context
This elegant 14th-century vessel crafted from cast copper alloy, exemplifies the refined metalworking traditions of medieval Germany (or a closely related region). Standing at just over 9 inches tall, with a sturdy yet graceful form measuring 23.3 x 19.2 x 14 cm, it reflects the practical artistry of the Gothic period, when metal objects served both utilitarian and symbolic purposes—perhaps for ecclesiastical rituals, domestic use, or communal gatheringsThe lost-wax casting technique used here allowed artisans to create detailed, hollow forms with remarkable precision, a hallmark of medieval E...