Eastern Germanic or Byzantine / Buckle / 5th century

Eastern Germanic or Byzantine
Buckle
5th century
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Creator Nationality: Asian; Anatolian; Byzantine
Creator Name-CRT: Eastern Germanic or Byzantine
Title: Buckle
View: Principal view
Creation Start Date: 400
Creation End Date: 499
Creation Date: 5th century
Object Type: Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects
Materials and Techniques: Gold garnets
Dimensions: L. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm), W. 1 1/8 in. (2.8 cm)
Description: This buckle, dating from the first half of the fifth century, was discovered in Raab, Hungary. As it was found with silver-gilt and garnet sheath fittings from a battle dagger and sword (now in the British Museum), it may have come from the grave of a prominent leader. The fine workmanship and a rich combination of heavy gold and dark garnets argue that it may have been made in a central jeweler's workshop in Constantinople. Often tribal chieftains from outlying regions of Byzantium were given opulent pieces of jewelry or sword fittings by the emperor, as a sign of friendship and alliance (or as a small bribe). Kings and powerful men would also commission pieces privately from these workshops, as a tangible symbol of their wealth and connections to the powerful civilization in Constantinople, so it is entirely probable that this buckle traveled very far from its maker before being buried with its owner.
AMICA Contributor: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Owner Location: New York, New York
ID Number: 1986.34
Credit Line: Purchase, Rogers Fund, Alastair B. Martin, Norbert Schimmel Foundation Inc., and Levy Hermanos Foundation Inc., Gifts and funds from various donors, 1986
Copyright: Copyright ? 2002 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All rights reserved.
Rights: http://www.metmuseum.org/education/er_photo_lib.asp
AMICA ID: MMA_.1986.34
AMICA Library Year: 2002
Media Metadata Rights: Copyright (c) 2002 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All Rights Reserved

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