Pin

Art Historical Context

This delicate Roman pin, crafted between 100 and 300 CE, exemplifies sophistication of late antique metalwork. Measuring just 9/16 x 2 1/16 x 3/8 inches, it likely served as a functional adornment for clothing or hair, reflecting everyday elegance in the Roman world. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Medieval Art Departmentgift of J. Pierpont Morgan in 7), it bridges the classical era and early medieval traditions, showcasing how Roman artisans laid the groundwork for later European enamel mastery. The pin's standout feature is its champlevé enamel technique on a copper alloy base—a met...