History: Record ID: WILT-9F441E – POST MEDIEVAL buckle

An Post-medieval copper alloy buckle, in two parts and with surviving plate, probably dating to c. AD 1500-1650. Originally comprising of a symmetrical frame of two oval loops, only the central bar and, in a separate fragment, the outer edge of one loop survives. The central bar is flanked by two knops, and with corrosion from a presumed iron pin now holding a separate copper alloy buckle plate in place. This is sub-piriform in shape, with a probable trilobed terminal lost to abrasion. The buckle plate has a central circular perforation, and is cast with foliate or ‘vine-scroll’ decoration. Although abraded the fragmetn of the outer frame of the buckle features similar decoration.

Dimensions of frame fragment: length 13.0mm; width 25.4mm; thickness 2.9mm; weight 1.31g.
Dimensions of buckle plate: length 24.9mm; width 14.7mm; thickness 5.0mm; weight (including central bar of frame and corroded pin) 6.76g.

A number of extremely similar buckles with more complete plates can be seen recorded on this database, see for example: SOM-0F8134, SUSS-C9A2E0, LON-5274E3. The trilobed terminals and otherwise similar decoration of these examples is compared to sword belt fittings of the the early Post-Medieval period (see, for example, SOM-364E5B) and a similar date is suggested.