Brooch, Ottonian, Made in probably northern Italy, ca. 970–1030. Gold, pearls, glass, cloisonné enamel. Overall: 1 1/2 x 1/2 in. (3.8 x 1.2 cm). Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917, 17.191.7 © 2000–2017 The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

High-ranking members of the Ottonian court wore this kind of adornment. The star-shaped brooch is decorated with miniature architectural forms constructed out of fine gold filigree and granulation. Collared enclosures for gems and glass paste were often used to set stones onto bezels for finger rings of the same date.