Girdle (Belt)
c. 1325–c. 1375
Medium
Silver, gilding, basse taille enamel, on a modern velvet support
Dimensions
176.2 × 4.5 × 2 cm (69 1/4 × 1 3/4 × 3/4 in.)
Classification
belts (costume accessory)
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
241995
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Girdles or belts like this rare fourteenth-century example were important luxury accessories for men and women. Medieval and Renaissance fashion consisted of flowing gathers of fabric that were cinched at the waist. This long girdle would loop through a buckle, with the remaining length hanging with the costume. There are two silver-gilt fittings: a larger hook likely used to hold back the excess belt length, and another to carry small personal objects like a purse. Frequently given as betrotha...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...