Buckle and Belt-End thumbnail 1

Buckle and Belt-End

1520-1530 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The buckle is banded: essentially the design is a cord round which a ribbon is bound, forming alternate plain and corded bands. It contains a large pin and is hinged to a buckle plate which is plain on the reverse, and enclosed by a corded rim on the obverse. The obverse of the buckle plate is decorated with two engraved foliated stems, which meet to form an ogee over a round arch decorated with pierced Late Gothic tracery. The belt end has this same motif on obverse and reverse. On the obverse is engraved a figure of the Virgin of Humility seated on the ground in a grassy landscape, beneath a Gothic canopy of tracery, feeding the infant Christ. On the reverse is the same pattern of pierced Gothic tracery; below a Gothic canopy is engraved a figure of St Andrew, standing in a grassy landscape in profile to the left, against a Gothic framework. He holds his cross with both hands.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Buckle
  • Girdle
Materials and techniques
Copper, engraved and gilt
Brief description
Buckle and end of a belt, engraved and gilded copper, with figures of the Virgin and Child and St Andrew. Germany, 1520-1530.
Physical description
The buckle is banded: essentially the design is a cord round which a ribbon is bound, forming alternate plain and corded bands. It contains a large pin and is hinged to a buckle plate which is plain on the reverse, and enclosed by a corded rim on the obverse. The obverse of the buckle plate is decorated with two engraved foliated stems, which meet to form an ogee over a round arch decorated with pierced Late Gothic tracery. The belt end has this same motif on obverse and reverse. On the obverse is engraved a figure of the Virgin of Humility seated on the ground in a grassy landscape, beneath a Gothic canopy of tracery, feeding the infant Christ. On the reverse is the same pattern of pierced Gothic tracery; below a Gothic canopy is engraved a figure of St Andrew, standing in a grassy landscape in profile to the left, against a Gothic framework. He holds his cross with both hands.
Dimensions
  • Length: 18cm
  • Width: 6cm
With modern cloth strap removed.
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic reference
Lightbown, Ronald. Medieval European Jewellery: with a catalogue of the collection in the Victoria & Albert Museum. London: Victoria & Albert Museum, 1992. cat. 78. p. 524.
Collection
Accession number
4526&A-1858

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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