Germanic Buckles and Belt Fittings

Typical germanic belt buckle of the 1st - 2nd century AD.

Typical germanic belt buckle of the 1st - 2nd century AD.

The belt buckele with it´s shape is an essential part of the roman military dress, but the metal sheet with the ornamentation has got many paralleles to germanic sword sheath decorations.

The belt buckele with it´s shape is an essential part of the roman military dress, but the metal sheet with the ornamentation has got many paralleles to germanic sword sheath decorations.

Visigothic belt buckle with square fitting. Replica of a 7th-century find with bird-head motifs from a private collection.

Replica of a find with an elongated fitting plate from a private collection. The buckle is based on an original from the 7th century

The original of this Krempenschnalle (brim buckle) was found at the sacrificial bog of Thorsberg in northern Germany, where an enormous number of objects was donated to the germanic gods. Mid 2nd century AD.

The original of this Krempenschnalle (brim buckle) was found at the sacrificial bog of Thorsberg in northern Germany, where an enormous number of objects was donated to the germanic gods. Mid 2nd century AD.

The original of this precious buckle was found at the sacrificial bog of Thorsberg in northern Germany, where an enormous number of objects was donated to the germanic gods. Second half 2nd century AD.

The original of this precious buckle was found at the sacrificial bog of Thorsberg in northern Germany, where an enormous number of objects was donated to the germanic gods. Second half 2nd century AD.

The first buckles of this kind date to the mid of the 2nd century, they were popular in- and outside of the roman empire.

Germanic belt buckle after an archaeological find from Wagenitz, Germany. Roman iron age.

Ancient germanic belt buckle after a find from Havelsee, early 2nd century AD.

Large belt set of 1 belt buckle with 2 fittings in chip carving (Kerbschnitt) technique, based on a find of the late 4th century AD.

This buckle with animal heads is a reconstruction of an original, completed with a metal plate to fit it on a leather belt.  Early 5th century.

This buckle with animal heads is a reconstruction of an original, completed with a metal plate to fit it on a leather belt.  Early 5th century.

Reconstruction of a nice late roman belt buckle with animal heads of the germanic migration period. It has been found in a anglo-saxon burial in Suffolk, England. 5th century AD.

Reconstruction of a nice late roman belt buckle with animal heads of the germanic migration period. It has been found in a anglo-saxon burial in Suffolk, England. 5th century AD.

Anglo-Saxon strap end, decorated in animal style ending with the stylized head of a beast. 6th to 7th century AD.

Anglo-Saxon strap end, decorated in animal style ending with the stylized head of a beast. 6th to 7th century AD.