Date: 912 Place of Production: Central Asia, found in Lincolnshire. Description: A dirham (a type of coin) tentatively dated to 300 AH (AD 912) and the reign of emir Isma’il ibn Ahmad (295-301 AH), a powerful ruler of the Samanid dynasty. The coin probably made its way to England in the hands of viking voyagers. Size: 27.92 mm diameter. Held…
Date: 969-76 Place of Production: Constantinople Description: Early Medieval Byzantine copper alloy coin of an anonymous ruler, struck in reign of John I Tzimiskes. The coin has been pierced, probably for use as a pendant. Obverse description: Facing bust of Christ with halo and draped robes. Reverse description: Inscription inside a circle, with decorative foliage underneath.…
Date: c. 919–21 Place of Production: Northumbria, probably York. Description: Very few coins survive from the reign of Rægnald I (also known as Ragnall ua Ímair), who ruled York from c. 919–921, when he died. The majority of the Hiberno-Norse ruler’s coins were found in the Bossall hoard of 1807. The coin’s martial imagery includes a bow and arrow…
In the Carolingian period, general oaths of fidelity like those sworn under Charlemagne, Louis the Pious or Charles the Bald created a direct personal bond between the adult male free population and the Carolingian ruler and his family. This has always been taken as indicating a comparatively high degree of statehood, as the oaths had…
In 933, Bishop Rather of Verona rebelled against his king. Together with the local count he invited Duke Arnulf of Bavaria and Carinthia to take over the Italian throne from King Hugh. Similar schemes had worked before: King Hugh himself had been invited to take over the Italian throne by another rebellious bishop in 926.…
Date: 11th- to 12th-century Place of Production: Reichenau/Paderborn, Germany Description: Portable altars were used by Christians to celebrate the Mass while traveling. On one long side is depicted the Baptism of Christ, attended by a veiled woman, possibly representing the Church, and Christ in Majesty, surrounded by Evangelist symbols. On the other long side, John the Baptist…
Date: 9th- to 11th-century Place of Production: Italy Description: This architectural element has decoration carved in flat raised relief on all four faces. The ornament on each face is different. Motifs, such as the as eyes of a lamb, are pointed up with lead- only the lead in the eyes now remains. There is a hole at…
Date: 10th- or 11th-Century Place of Production: Germany Description: This ring consists of multiple elements soldered together to create a rich, micro-architectural form, a feature typical of Ottonian goldsmithing. The varied techniques used in its fabrication resulted in areas of granulation, swabbed and twisted wires, and ribbons of bent wire, as well as cast, punched, and chased…
Date: 970-1030 Place of Production: probably Northern Italy Description: This brooch in the shape of a star is decorated with miniature architectural forms constructed of fine gold filigree and granulation. Within the gold setting are pearls, glass and cloisonné enamelwork. Held at: Metropolitan Museum of New York Accession Number: 17.191.7 Images in Public Domain
Date: 950-1000 (brooch); 337-50 (intaglio sapphire) Place of Production: Ottonian Empire (brooch); Eastern Roman Empire (intaglio sapphire) Description: Jewels conceived of as microarchitecure are one of the distinctive hallmarks of Ottonian goldsmiths’ work. This brooch is composed of a series of arcaded gold cells, linked together to form a star, but its definite horizontal and vertical axes, in…
