Finger Ring
Unknown Artist
7th century
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: 7/8 x 3/4 x 11/16 in. (2.3 x 1.9 x 1.7 cm) bezel: 11/16 in. (1.7 cm)
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
17.193.71a
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver finger ring, crafted by an unknown Frankish artisan in the th century, offers a glimpse into the daily lives and craftsmanship of the Meroving Franks, who dominated much of early medieval Europe. Measuring just 7/8 x 3/4 x 11/16 inches overall, with a bezel of 11/16 inch, its compact form was designed for personal adornment, likely worn by both men and women as a symbol of status or affection. The use of silver—a precious metal worked through techniques like casting and hammering—highlights the sophisticated metalworking skills of Frankish jewelers, who drew on late Roman...