MEDIEVAL BUCKLE

1200

Front part of a medieval gilt copper alloy rectangular buckle plate broken across the fold and depicting in low relief a bird-like (winged and two-legged) creature facing left and feeding from the ground (cf. Fingerlin 1971, Abb. 10). No enamel, which cerainly would have been present, has survived. A transverse line of rocker-arm engraving follows the edge of the fold. Frame recesses and the lack of pin or slot shows that this would have been folded over one edge of a double-looped frame (cf. ibid. 37). There are three rivet holes near the inside edge, two empty and one, in the centre, containing a large convex-headed rivet which may be secondary, or entirely decorative. 21 x 24mm. c.1200 - c.1250.