Pin Part
Unknown Artist
200–500
Medium
Copper alloy
Dimensions
Overall: 1 9/16 x 1/16 in. (4 x 0.2 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Copper alloy
Culture
Roman
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.191.71
Art Historical Context
This delicate "Pin Part," crafted from copper alloy around 200–500 CE, offers a glimpse into everyday Roman life during Late Antiquity. Measuring just 1 9/16 x 1/16 inches, tiny fragment—likely part of a hairpin or garment pin—exemplifies the precision of Roman metalworking. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in1917 by J. Pierpont Morgan, it resides in the Medieval Art department, bridging the classical Roman world and the emerging medieval era. Copper alloys like this one, often a bronze mix, were prized for their durability, affordability, and workability, allowing artisans to cast o...