Disk Brooch

Unknown

first half 6th century · Silver-gilt, garnets with patterned foil backings. · Medieval Art

Garnets, worked in the cloisonné technique, featured prominently in the luxury jewelry of the Franks. Jewelers would solder small compartments arranged in geometric patterns onto the surface of a metal disk. In those cells, or cloisons, they would place a textured piece of gold foil, which would show through the thin translucent garnet that would then be set on top.

Artist

Unknown

Date

first half 6th century

Medium

Silver-gilt, garnets with patterned foil backings.

Culture

Frankish

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917