BUCKLE

The object is a sub-oval framed buckle, which has a buckle plate attached. The frame and buckle plate are made from cast copper alloy. The buckle is a sub-oval shape in plan, with a slightly off-set and narrowed strap bar. The loop is a sub-triangular shape in section, with the tip forming the outer edge. The underside of the loop is concave. The loop increases in with towards the apex, and the sides taper towards the strap bar. The pin is an elongated triangular shape in plan which is curled a round the strap bar. The pin has a slight ridge on the upper surface near the loop as decoration.

The buckle plate is a sheet of rectangular copper alloy which has been folded in over the strap bar. Approximately a quarter of the total length of the plate has been folded underneath the upper plate. Along the fold the edges and a central slot have been removed allowing for the pin and unrestricted movement. The upper plate is a sub-rectangular in plan, it does taper slightly towards the edge opposite the fold. The upper plate is decorated with an impressed eight-petalled flower, which is within a high-relief circular beaded border. One edge of the border is not as clear due to the uneven pressure applied in decorating process. The edges of the plate have an unclear low-relief linear border. The plate has four rivet holes, each filled with a copper alloy rounded headed rivet. There is a rivet positioned in each corner of the plate. Gilding is visible on the plate around the rivets. The reverse of the plate is undecorated, but the impression of the stamped flower is visible. The underside plate is narrower than the upper plate, and is undecorated. The underside plate has both copper alloy rivet penetrating it, both rivets have then been flattened to secure in place. Both plates have been folded together forming an ‘U’ shape in profile. Between the two plates, a fragment of leather is visible.

Both the buckle plate and frame have an incomplete dark green patina, some pitting on the buckle and pin occur. The buckle and plate weighs 9.17g and measures 54.09mm long and the frame is 27.19mm wide.

Egan and Pritchard illustrate similar buckles, No. 262 in particular and No. 274, which date to the late 13th century to 14th century.