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Frankish Silver and Glass Cloisonne Buckle
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Item Number: CA-11-182
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CULTURE / REGION OF ORIGIN: Merovingian Frankish, Western Europe, probably France
DATE: 5th-6th CenturyAD
DIMENSIONS: 3.76 cm (1.48 in.), (in.). 8.03 grams (0.28 ounces)
DESCRIPTION: Intact. A superb and finely crafted example of a Merovingian buckle, probably from the waist belt of a high-status female. The plate consists of a D-shaped silver setting for the red glass panel, with a silver top mount with an extension bar that traces the loop and continues beneath the buckle to accept the attachment rivets. The panel is bisected by a silver rectangular mount with incised linear decoration and two spherical-headed rivets. The long silver tongue tapers gracefully. The circular loop is made from a flattened silver bar. The red glass inlay imitated the cloisone’ cellwork of polychrome garnet jewellery of the period.
PROVENANCE: From an old English collection. Found in Continental Europe. This object is accompanied by a copy of the export license issued by the British Museums, Libraries and Archives Export Licensing Unit.
COMPARISONS: Menghin, W., The Merovingian Period: Europe Without Borders, Exhibition Catalogue, 2007, Page 491, Item VII.25.2. |
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