Cherry Stone from a Tomb

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Medieval collection, this unassuming cherry stone, measuring just 3/8 inch (1 cm), hails from a Frankish tomb dating to 500–600 AD.overed among grave goods of the Merovingian era early Frankish kingdom that dominated much of western Europe—this tiny relic offers a poignant glimpse into daily life and death rituals of the time. Gifted by J. Pier Morgan in 1917, it stands as a rare organic survivor, preserved in the anaerobic conditions of a burial site. Though classified as miscellaneous and attributed to an unknown artist, the cherry stone's presenc...