Pin
Unknown Artist
ca. 8th–7th century BCE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
10 7/16 × 3 11/16 in. (26.5 × 9.4 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Ornaments
Culture & Period
Iran · Iron Age III
Department
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Ernest Erickson Foundation, 1988
Accession Number
1988.102.8
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant bronze pin, crafted by an unknown artist in Iran the Iron Age III periodca. 8th–7th century BCE), a glimpse into the sophisticated metalworking traditions of the ancient Near East. Measuring 10½ inches long, this ornament likely served as a functional yet decorative fastening for clothing or hair, its slender form adorned with faces that evoke human or mythical figures. Such pins were prized possessions, blending utility with artistry in a time when bronze casting techniques were reaching new heights of precision. The pin's creation reflects the technological prowess of Iron Age ...