MEDIEVAL BUCKLE

1150

Medieval Gilt buckle, pin missing. Oval frame with widened outside edge, offset, narrowed bar and transverse moulded groove on front at junctions between bar and sides. The outside edge is decorated with numerous oblique alignment of rocker-arm engraving. Trapezoidal sheet plate with pin slot, frame recesses and four rivet holes (one of which is filled with iron). Unusual decoration on the outer parts of the front consist of a pair of engraved lines along the attachment edge and the sides, one transverse line butting the sides of the pin slot, and two short longitudinal lines running from the latter up to the fold on both sides of the pin slot. Ten probably punched triangular depressions between the rivet holes, two parallel with the sides and three with the edges, all with their apices inwards, surround an engraved rectangular containing two short transverse engraved lines and two transverse alignments of rocker-arm engraving. There is no sign of enamel inlay in the triangles, but one of some similar cells on a buckle plate from Thornham (HER 14373) contained red enamel. The central rectangular area may be intended, when viewed with the frame to the left, to represent a triple-towered castle. The damaged, smaller, roughly semicircular rear part of the plate is pierced by the two rivet holes near the fold. Frame 27mm x 42mm, plate 33.5mm x 31 –35mm. Late 12th – 13th century.