BUCKLE

An incomplete Post-Medieval buckle plate, probably dating to c. AD 1500-1650. The surviving portion consists of the front plate only. The plate is very broadly piriform in plan, with a rounded base, which narrows into a waisted section before expanding into a trilobed terminal. The front of the plate is deocrated with a deeply incised "vinescroll" motif, with a central stem flanked by scrolling leaves. From the attachment end of the plate two parallel arms extend, originally wrapping around the bar of the buckle and connecting the two halves of the plate, although they are now broken at the fold. The plate is perforated by two rivet holes, both on the longitudinal median line and retaining an iron rivet in situ.

Dimensions: length 28.0mm; width 14.3mm; thickness 1.9mm; weight 2.44g.

A number of such plates can be seen still attached to double looped buckles and cast with foliate decoration, for example: SOM-AFD076, SOM-0F8134, SUR-8E3421, DEV-9E99E6. Their similarity to contemporary sword belt hangers (Cf. Read, 2008: 220, no. 793) suggests they are part of a suite of items for a sword belt.