MEDIEVAL BUCKLE

1200

Front part of a medieval gilt copper alloy buckle plate, square with concave sides, pin slot and frame recesses. It is broken at the fold. Decoration comprises longitudinal and transverse lines of finely engraved interrupted rocker-arm engraving giving the appearance of tiny addorsed triangles, and dividing the surface into nine squares. Further lines continue along both sides of the pin slot to the start of the fold. There is a rivet hole in the centre of each square. Four retain entirely decorative convex headed rivets, three across the centre and one near the centre of the inside edge. Four of the five empty holes, those near the corners, would have contained rivets to retain the strap and to secure the rear part of the plate. Dimensions 40mm x 40mm. Dates to the 13th century.