Belt Buckle
Unknown Artist
6th–7th century
Medium
Iron, gold, silver and brass inlay
Dimensions
Overall: 4 x 1 5/8 x 1/2 in. (10.1 x 4.2 x 1.3 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Iron
Culture
Frankish
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.191.335
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Frankish belt buckle, dating to the 6th–7th century, exemplifies masterful metalwork of the early medieval Merovingian period. Crafted from iron with intricate inlays of gold, silver, brass, it measures a modest 4 x 1⅝ x ½ inches, yet its compact form belies its status as a prestige object. Likely worn by a member of the Frankish elite—perhaps a warrior or noble—this buckle would have secured a belt while signaling wealth and power through its shimmering materials. The technique of inlaying softer precious metals into a durable iron base highlights the sophisticated craftsmansh...