MEDIEVAL BUCKLE

1150

Incomplete medieval copper alloy buckle: trapezoidal frame with narrowed bar and pronounced notched lip in the centre of the outside edge; strip pin of rectangular section at the loop but hammered into a D-section where tapering to the missing point; openwork plate with pin slot and frame recesses and missing its inside edge. The openwork consists of three apertures in the form of rounded arches, the most complete one with rudimentary capitals, to be viewed with the frame upwards. The space between the arches and the pin slot is filled with a zig-zag formed from two lines of finely executed interrupted rocker-arm engraving giving the appearance of tiny addorsed triangles. The rear part of the plate is complete but very short and without any means of attachment. Frame 15 x 24mm. Plate >20 x 23mm. Rear part 9 x 18mm. Overall length >32mm. Cf. an example from Litcham, Norfolk with a similar plate but with an oval frame (HER 15535, NMS-61E218). Perhaps c.1150 - c.1225.