Lot Essay
The disk said to be from Palestine.
CIRCA LATE 5TH-6TH CENTURY A.D.
Details
A MEDITERRANEAN GERMANIC OR BYZANTINE BELT BUCKLE
circa late 5th-6th century a.d.
Of gilt-bronze, with a narrow oval loop joined to the rectangular attachment plate by a folded flap, the tongue missing, the L-shaped frame of the plate with a raised inner field with all-over cloinsonné, a cruciform motif at the center of a diamond and quadrilobate ribbon, inlaid with glass and lapis lazuli, the border with three perforations for attachment to the back-plate; together with a Mediterranean Byzantine bronze disk, circa late 5th-6th century A.D., perhaps originally a brooch, box-shaped with all-over cloisonné, a cabochon crystal in the center, enclosed within a ring of nine wedge-shaped lapis lazuli inlays, a ring of ivory disks and green glass, and an outer ring of tear-shaped red glass inlays
2¼ in. (5.7 cm.) wide for the first (2)
circa late 5th-6th century a.d.
Of gilt-bronze, with a narrow oval loop joined to the rectangular attachment plate by a folded flap, the tongue missing, the L-shaped frame of the plate with a raised inner field with all-over cloinsonné, a cruciform motif at the center of a diamond and quadrilobate ribbon, inlaid with glass and lapis lazuli, the border with three perforations for attachment to the back-plate; together with a Mediterranean Byzantine bronze disk, circa late 5th-6th century A.D., perhaps originally a brooch, box-shaped with all-over cloisonné, a cabochon crystal in the center, enclosed within a ring of nine wedge-shaped lapis lazuli inlays, a ring of ivory disks and green glass, and an outer ring of tear-shaped red glass inlays
2¼ in. (5.7 cm.) wide for the first (2)