Buckle Shank
Unknown Artist
5th–7th century
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
L. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm); W. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm); thickness 3/8 in. (1 cm); Wt. 1.5 oz. (42 g)
Classification
Miscellaneous-Buckles & Ornament
Culture
Visigothic
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1920
Accession Number
20.153.18a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite bronze buckle shank, crafted by an unknown Visigothic artisan the 5th and 7th centuries, offers a glimpse into the daily life and craftsmanship of early medieval Europe. Measuring just 3½ inches long and weighing a mere 1.5 ounces, this sturdy yet elegantly proportioned piece—housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's and Armor Department—was likely part of a larger belt buckle or harness ornament. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 0, it exemplifies the practical beauty of Visigothic metalwork. The Visigoths, a Germanic people who established a kingdom across Iberia and south...