Openwork Rosette Brooch
Unknown Artist
6th century
Medium
Silver, silver-gilt, garnet, iron
Dimensions
Overall: 7/8 x 1/4 in. (2.2 x 0.7 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
17.191.25
Art Historical Context
This delicate **Openwork Rosette Bro**, crafted by an unknown Frankish artisan in the 6th century, exemplifies the exquisite metalwork of early medieval Europe. Measuring just 78 x 1/4 inches (2.2 x 0.7 cm), this jewel features a floral rosette design pierced through silver sheets, adorned with silver-gilt accents and vibrant garnet inlays, with iron possibly used in its pin mechanism. Such openwork techniques allowed light to play through the intricate cutouts, creating a shimmering effect that highlighted its wearer's status. Hailing from the Frankish culture—associated with the Merovingian...