LOT 0334

Merovingian Bronze Belt Buckle with Gold and Garnet Inlays

5TH-6TH CENTURY A.D.

3 7/8 in. (147 grams, 98 mm).

Comprising: ellipsoid loop with hollowed underside; tongue with D-shaped shield bearing stylised facing mask among pellets, waisted and curved over the forward edge of the loop; rectangular plate with applied sheet-gold triangular panels bearing repoussé rings, waves, points and other motifs, gold cellwork and segmented frame with garnet cloisons, a central garnet cabochon, segmented rim; four pierced attachment lugs to the reverse.

From the collection of Adolphe Stoclet, 1871-1949.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12137-217046.

Georges A. Salles and Daisy Lion-Goldschmidt, Adolphe Stoclet Collection (part I), Brussels, 1956, p.137 (d).

Cf. Menghin, W., The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, items IX.3.1 & 2 (Badajoz, Spain); Heynowski, R., Bestimmungsbuch Archaeologie: Gürtel, Munich, 2017, type 8.4; MacGregor, A. et al., A Summary Catalogue of the Continental Archaeological Collections, Oxford, 1997.

The buckle plate is large and impressive, while the loop is somewhat narrower and may have been replaced. The central cabochon is a feature of buckle plates from this period (e.g. Menghin, IX.3.1, IX.5.1). The tongue-shield is of an unusual type more often found in Frankish contexts (e.g. Menghin, VII.40.18, MacGregor 77.24, 77.25, 77.26) of the same period.