clioancientart: A Group of Visigothic Bronze Belt Plates and Fragments CULTURE / REGION OF ORIGIN: V
clioancientart: A Group of Visigothic Bronze Belt Plates and Fragments CULTURE / REGION OF ORIGIN: Visigothic Spain. DATE: Circa 5th-6th Century AD LINK: http://www.clioancientart.com/catalog/i125.htmlIncluding – • Fragment of a Visigothic (or Vandal) belt and buckle set. The fragment raggedly broken on one long side, probably by modern farm or construction equipment. The outer surface decorated with chip carved raised bosses surrounded by rays and fine feathered incisions; portion of a indeterminate complex design at the break point. One end with 2 fragmentary vertical loops for attachment to the rest of the buckle. The reverse with 1 complete and 1 fragmentary loops for attachment to the leather. Dark green patina with strong earthen highlights. : 3.8 cm wide (1.5 in.) x 3.55 cm long (1.4 in.). • Fragment of a Visigothic (or Vandal) belt and buckle set. The fragment cleanly broken on one long side, probably by modern farm or construction equipment. The outer surface decorated with a chip carved rectangle, containing a raised center with chip carved abstract vegetal or bird imagry. One end with 2 complete vertical loops for attachment to the rest of the buckle. The reverse with 2 complete loops for attachment to the leather. Dark green patina with earthen highlights. 3.8 cm wide (1.5 in.) x 3.8 cm long (1.5 in.). • Large fragment from one end of a Visigothic (or Vandal) belt and buckle set. Raggedly broken on one end, probably by modern farm or construction equipment. The outer face bearing chip carved design of a highly abstracted animal. Five regularly spaced projections around. Reverse with one shank/loop for attachment to the leather. Slightly dusty even green patina. 5.2 cm long (2.1 inches), 3.5 cm wide (1.4 inches). • Large fragment from one end of a Visigothic (or Vandal) belt and buckle set. Raggedly broken on one long side, probably by modern farm or construction equipment. The outer surface decorated with chip carved abstract swirl designs, contained within a large diamond border and a semi-circular border at the rounded end. The undecorated reverse with 2 complete loops for attachment to the leather. Dark green patina with earthen highlights. 3.55 cm wide (1.4 in.) x 5.0 cm long (2.0 in.). • Fragment from one end of a Visigothic (or Vandal) belt and buckle set. Raggedly broken towards its center, probably by modern farm or construction equipment. The outer face bearing chip carved design of what seem to be highly abstracted animals. Nine regularly spaced small projections around. Reverse with one shank/loop for attachment to the leather. Dusty even dark green patina. 4.3 cm (1.75 in.) long, 3.1 cm (1.25 in.) maximum width. PROVENANCE: All ex California private collection until April, 2003. COMPARISONS: Williams & Friell, Theodosius, the Empire at Bay, Yale University Press, New Haven, 1995, Plate 16 for 5th Century Roman-Germanic military buckles excavated in England with similar rounded ends and similar abstract designs. For the last, see a very similar but much larger and more complete example at the MMA website (http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/06/eusi/ho_1990.193.3ab.htm) accession # 1990.193.3ab. -- source link