BUCKLE

Incomplete late medieval large copper alloy openwork buckle frame with open integral plate, missing its pin, arms of openwork decoration and finial. It is very similar to an example from London in the London Museum Medieval Catalogue 1967, p.270, fig.85, no.1. The buckle has an open rectangular shaped (and rectangular in section) compartment for the strap to fit into - it has one open end. It measures 22x18.5x6.8mm(5.1mm min) and the internal dimensions of the open end are 14.1x2.8mm. One face is decorated with a grooved + inside a square, where the two sides facing the short ends are incurving. The other two sides have incurving lines next to them, the area in between which is decorated with rocker arm grooves. The London example is decorated with black letter, At the open and are the remains of two rivet holes, their edge nearest the open end broken and on the underside showing the remains of iron. The end opposite to the open end is slightly less deep but has a rib flanking its attachment to a 3.4mm thick 14.1x3.1mm piece, pierced at the centre by a 3mm diameter hole. Beyond this is a rib from which extends the buckle frame. Beside the hole the rib is not present - this is where the pin would have attached. The frame of these buckles is sometimes described as 'lyre' shaped. Either side of the parallel edges (which extend c.15mm from the rib) is an out-curved area pierced with two holes and at either end a smaller rounded pierced area. This fits with the decoration on the London example where these are foliate elaborations! The frame then extends into an open heart-shape. At the centre of London example is a standing figure, but the buckle here has a break on the inside surface of both parallel edges and another internally extending from the heart-shaped end, giving the impression of a decoration based loosely on an inverted V. Beyond the heart-shaped end, which is 35.7mm wide, a broken projection extends, apparantly openwork. Directly behind it at the top of the heart is a 2.4mm piercing. The buckle bends slightly upwards beyond the parallel edges of the frame. It measures 62.1x35.7mm and weighs 22.59g. 15th century.