Ear Clip
Unknown Artist
ca. 12th century
Medium
Bronze with traces of gilding
Dimensions
H. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm)
Classification
Metalwork
Culture
Cambodia
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Heller, 1991
Accession Number
1991.391.3
Art Historical Context
This delicate **Ear Clip**, crafted in bronze with traces of gild around the 12th century, hails from the Khmer Empire of Cambodia—a golden age marked by the grandeur of Angkor Wat and sophisticated metalworking traditions. Measuring just 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm) in, this tiny ornament exemplifies the Khmer artisans' mastery of small-scale jewelry, likely worn as an earring or hair clip by elites to signify status and beauty. The use of bronze, a durable alloy cast through lost-wax techniques common in Southeast Asian metalwork, combined with gilding—possibly applied via gold leaf or mercury ama...