Large Gothic Silver-Gilt Buckle with Raven and Eagle Heads
Late 6th-early 7th century A.D.. Comprised of a crescent loop with bird-head finials, punched-point detailing and cloison eyes; tongue with beast-head finial; plaque with separate square panel of raised ornament with garnet cloison to each corner, larger central cloison surrounded by eight smaller, profile bird-head to the rear with garnet cloison eye. Cf. Ajbabin A., ‘I Goti in Crimea (secoli V-VII) [The Goths in Crimea (5th-7th centuries)’ in I Goti (The Goths), Milano Palazzo Reale 28 gennaio- 8 maggio 1994, (Milan Palazzo Reale 28 January-8 May 1994), Milano, 1994, pp.110-135; Menghin, W., The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, item I.7.1.
190 grams, 18 cm (7 in.).
Acquired in Munich in the 1970s.From an old European collection.Property of an important West London collector.This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no. 11831-206924. Numerous examples of these buckles, together with stirrup fibulae with buttons, were found in the necropolis of the Bosphorus, brought from the Danube area in the first and second half of the 6th century. They were part of the equipment of burials in crypts or inhumation tombs, dated from the end of the 6th century to the 7th century. Accurate comparisons can be made with a specimen recovered in burial tomb 315 of Eski Kermen, (first half of the 7th century), a grave belonging to a woman of Alan ethnic group, buried with Gothic ornaments.
[A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website]