Belt Buckle
Unknown Artist
7th century
Medium
Iron, silver inlay, copper alloy
Dimensions
Overall: 5 1/2 x 2 5/8 x 13/16 in. (14 x 6.7 x 2 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
17.192.235
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Frankish belt buckle from the 7 century exemplifies the masterful metalwork of early medieval Europe during the Merovingian period Crafted from iron with intricate silver inlay and copper alloy, it measures a compact 5½ x 2⅝ x 13/16 inches (14 x 6.7 x 2 cm), yet its robust form and decorative detailing suggest it adorned a high-status belt, symbolizing wealth and power among the Frankish elite. Such accessories were not mere fasteners but emblems of identity, bridging late Roman traditions with emerging Germanic styles. The buckle's construction highlights advanced techniques l...