Buckle
Unknown Artist
450–500
Medium
Iron, copper alloy
Dimensions
H. 1 1/2 in. (3.9 cm); W. 1 7/8 in. (4.7 cm); thickness 13/16 in. (2 cm); Wt. 1.2 oz. (34 g)
Classification
Miscellaneous-Buckles & Ornament
Culture
Frankish
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.193.49
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Frankish buckle, dating to around 450–500 CE, offers a glimpse into the daily life and craftsmanship of the early medieval Franks, a Germanic people who rose to prominence in what is now France and Germany after the fall of the Roman Empire.ed from sturdy iron for durability—ideal for securing belts on clothing, armor, or horse gear—and accented with copper alloy for decorative flair, it measures a compact 1 ½ by 1 ⅞ inches. Such small yet functional objects were essential for warriors and elites, blending utility with subtle ornamentation during the turbulent Migration Period. ...