ticketsMember | Make a donation

Brooch in Form of a Bird of Prey

late 500s
Not on view
The head and right leg of this elegant bird brooch are in left profile, while its rounded body and flaring tail are presented frontally. The extended right wing curves behind the tail. The edges of the neck, wings, and tail, and the upper part of the leg are outlined with pseudobeading. Nine stamped (punched?) crayfish decorate the tail. The position of the head, supported by the raised leg, indicates that the bird is sleeping.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Brooch in Form of a Bird of Prey
  • Date: late 500s
  • Culture: Vendel
  • Medium: Copper alloy with silver overlay
  • Dimensions: Overall: 2 1/8 x 1 1/4 x 3/8 in. (5.4 x 3.2 x 1 cm)
  • Classification: Metalwork-Brass
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Leon Levy and Shelby White Gift, Rogers Fund, and funds from various donors, 1991
  • Object Number: 1991.308
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Disk Brooch, Copper alloy, gilt, Vendel
Disk Brooch
Vendel
600–650
Bow Brooch with Disk, Copper alloy with mercury gilding and garnet, Vendel
Bow Brooch with Disk
Vendel
early 700s
Situla (Bucket for Holy Water), Elephant ivory with gilded copper-alloy mounts and foil inlays, Carolingian
Situla (Bucket for Holy Water)
Carolingian
860–880
Bow Brooch, Silver-gilt, niello, Langobardic
Bow Brooch
Langobardic
late 6th–early 7th century
Silver Bucket, Silver, Byzantine
Silver Bucket
Byzantine
600s

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.