MEDIEVAL BUCKLE

1350

A damaged and corroded cast copper-alloy medieval 'locking buckle'. The frame is rectangular in plan, with rounded corners. The outer edge is wide (c. 5.65mm), flat and rabbeted (or notched) to accept and secure a U-shaped arm attached to the pin bar: the arm only now exists partially. It also features a central triangular indentation in which the pin still rests. In profile the sides of the frame are expanded (Th.: 5.65mm) to receive the off-centred pin bar; from this point they travel down to the outer edge in a curvilinear fashion. On the side opposite the locking arm the frame has broken between the pin bar perforation and the inner edge. The inner edge has been bent upwards towards the pin bar at this point. As implied, the pin bar survives in situ with the 'pin-chape' surviving around it in its entirety. The latter is formed of an integrally cast rectangular element, pierced all the way through for the pin bar, with protruding and tapering triangular pin. The rectangular element is of a thickness with the sides around the pin bar perforations. Less than half of the curved locking arm has survived; it has a lozengiform cross-section. Such buckles are well attested in the literature; recent published examples can be found illustrated in Egan 2005 (37-38; refs. 116, 117), which includes a reconstruction drawing.