Disk Brooch
Unknown Artist
6th century
Medium
Silver-gilt, garnets with patterned foil backings
Dimensions
diam. 3/4 x 1/4in. (1.9 x 0.6cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
Frankish
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.191.15
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Disk Brooch, crafted by an unknown Frankish artisan in the 6th century, the refined metalwork of the early medieval Merovingian period. Measuring just 3/4 inch in diameter, this petite silver-gilt treasure was likely used to fasten cloaks or adorn clothing, serving as both a practical accessory and a symbol of among the Frankish elite. circular form, typical of disk brooches from this era, reflects the geometric elegance favored in post-Roman Europe as Germanic tribes like the Franks blended classical influences with their own motifs. The brooch's artistry shines in its use of ...