Earring

Art Historical Context

This delicate silver earring, crafted by an unknown Frankish artisan in the 7th century, offers a glimpse into the daily adornments of early medieval Europe. Measuring just 1 3/4 x 3/16 inches, its petite scale suggests it was designed for personal wear, likely as a symbol of status or cultural identity among the Franks—a Germanic people who dominated what is now France and Germany during the Merovingian dynasty. Frankish metalwork like this exemplifies the period's skilled silversmithing, blending utilitarian jewelry with artistic finesse. In the Medieval Art collection at The Metropolitan M...