BUCKLE

Medieval buckle frame of extraordinary form, trapezoidal, with the outside edge consisting of a huge animal head with a longitudinal oval aperture formed by the open mouth, obliquely angled sub-triangular-sectioned sides with multiple oblique grooves on the convex face and a globular knop at each end of a straight narrowed bar. There is a triangular perforation in the base of the animal-head near the inner edge, forming a pin-bar that retains a corroded fragment of an iron pin. The animal head carries elaborate cast moulded detail of ears, a possible mane, deep transverse grooves on the brow, a transversely segmented snout and two lines of engraved notches around the open mouth, the outer ones of which are finely engraved. The almond-shaped eyes both have a concave setting, one of which retains a rounded pellet of dark blue glass. The strap must have passed through the open mouth of the beast.

The buckle is closely paralleled by an example from Ludham (Norfolk Historic Environment Record number 24864), and another with glass eyes appears in Benet's Artifacts (2003), p. 454, M12-0125 (unprovenanced). Others of similar form have been found in Grimston (HER 29404), Loddon (HER13009), Lingwood and Burlingham (HER 37309), Narford (HER 29797), Oxborough (HER 32985) and Woodton (HER 50163). This example measures 30 x 20mm, with a height or thickness of 15mm and dates from the 12^th century.

Rogerson and Ashley (2011) Gaping-mouth beast Type 1 (ibid. fig. 8a).