Buckle
Unknown Artist
15th century
Medium
Bronze, copper
Dimensions
H. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm); W. 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm); thickness 3/8 in. (1 cm); Wt. 0.9 oz. (25 g)
Classification
Miscellaneous-Buckles & Ornament
Culture
French
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Bashford Dean, 1920
Accession Number
20.152.81
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 15th-century French, crafted from bronze and copper, offers a glimpse into the refined metalworking of late medieval Europe. Measuring just 1 3/4 inches high and 2 5/8 inches wide, compact form belies its role as a functional yet decorative accessory, likely used to secure belts, straps, or elements of armor. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Department, it exemplifies the era's blend of utility and ornamentation, gifted by collector Bashford Dean in 0. Bronze and copper were prized for their durability and malleability, allowing skilled artisans to cast or ha...