Tongue-shaped in plan with knop finial and three pierced lugs to the reverse; raised rim enclosing a scene with advancing gladiator and a lion(?) preparing to attack.

PROVENANCE:
Ex London and Home Counties gentleman, R.W., 1970s.

This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

LITERATURE:
Cf. Schulze-Dörrlamm, M., Byzantinische Gürtelschnallen und Gürtelbeschläge im Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseum, Teil 2. Die Schnallen mit Scharnierbeschläg und Schnallen mit angegossenem Riemendurchzug des 7. bis 10. Jahrhunderts, Mainz, 2009, pp.118ff. type E38.

FOOTNOTES:
All E38 buckles probably originally had a kidney-shaped bow (T-shaped), a prong with a rectangular, undecorated shield, and a U-shaped hinge fitting with a finial depicting a man fighting a lion. This could be a rider stabbing the prone animal with his lance, or a gladiator with a raised shield killing a lion with a sword or lance. The reliefs are surrounded by a border of varying design. Depending on the width of the fitting, the number of rear pierced pegs varies between from two to three.