Belt Buckle

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Culture Byzantine

Title Belt Buckle

Date 500–700 CE

Medium Gold

Dimensions Overall: 2 5/8 x 1 7/16 x 11/16 in. (6.7 x 3.7 x 1.8 cm)

Credit Line Burton Y. Berry Collection, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University

Accession Number 76.80.8

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About this Work

Belt buckles became fashionable in the fifth and sixth centuries as the Roman toga fell out of fashion and trousers became popular. Although buckles served a practical function, they were valued as jewelry. The skillfulness evident in this piece sets it apart as an especially precious example. The use of gold, a soft metal for this type of object, further suggests that this piece was made for ceremonial purposes only, rather than for daily wear. The decoration, which centers on the bust of an angel (perhaps one of the four archangels), also supports the likelihood that it was owned by a high-ranking official of the court or a member of the clergy.

Provenance
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Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

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"Belt Buckle | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=76.80.8