**Originally Listed At $2000**

Europe, present day Italy, Ostrogoth, ca. 5th century CE. An incredible gilded bronze belt studded with eight round red garnets, with a falcon-headed form on the tongue and the back of the buckle. Low-relief square and scroll motifs provide further ornate decoration on all parts of the front face of the belt. The Ostrogoths were pagan, and so buried their dead with elaborate grave goods and in formal dress. Belt buckles like this one are found in the graves of elite Ostrogothic women, who were also dressed in earrings, necklaces, and brooches. This particular example has an interesting bronze patina with preserved textile on its undecorated back. Size: 4.55" W x 2.25" H (11.6 cm x 5.7 cm); 3.45" H (8.8 cm) on included custom stand.

The Goths (of whom the Ostrogoths were the eastern branch) were a loose confederation of pagan (sometimes called "barbarian") tribes who are sometimes credited with taking down Rome through their military exploits and who continued to be a powerful force in Central Europe through the Migration and early medieval periods. Precious metal and red stones were often used in Gothic jewelry to denote the most elite individuals. The Goths learned the method of inlaying stones from their contact with Greek colonies along the Black Sea, as at Panticapeon (modern Kerch in Crimea), who had in turn inherited the practice from trade with migrating tribes in the South Russian plains around the 3rd century BCE and who catered to pagan clients throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The garnets themselves probably originated in Burma and traveled to European shores via India and the Silk Road. Once they moved into former Roman territories, the Goths quickly became consumers of beautiful items like this one.

Provenance: private New York, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#127327

Much gilding remains. Hinge is functional. Encrusted textile patina on the undecorated back. All garnets are present and form and detail are in very nice condition.