POST MEDIEVAL BUCKLE

1550

An incomplete copper-alloy post-medieval buckle plate. The plate was formed of one copper-alloy sheet, cut and bent over on itself. It is broken in half, at the point where it would have looped round the buckle frame. From the broken point it continues with plain rectangular tabs on either side; one has broken off to a greater extent. The trilobed terminal is flared at 16.65mm wide, beyond a central waist. The upper surface of the plate has symmetrical floral engraving. In addition to a hole at the terminal, there is another hole up towards the pin end around both of which iron corrosion product from the rivets is present. The metal has corroded to a variable mid-green colour over a red/brown metal. This example has been bent upwards in profile at the pin bar end, more to one side. Similar buckles can be found illustrated in the literature (e.g. Whitehead 1996, 68; ref. 423). The trilobed terminal is reminiscent of sword-belt fittings.