Gold Belt Buckle From The Ship Burial At Sutton Hoo

At its centre was a ruined burial chamber packed with treasures.

Gold belt buckle from the ship burial at sutton hoo.

Gold belt buckle the metal and decoration on saxon s buckle reflected the wealth and status of their owner. Belt buckle sutton hoo early 7th century gold 13 2 x 5 6 cm trustees of the british museum beneath the mound was the imprint of a 27 metre long ship. From the sutton hoo ship burial mound 1 england uk. Three large plain hemispherical bosses connect with sliding catches on the back plate which opens on a hinge.

The most significant artefacts from the ship burial displayed in the british museum are those found in the burial chamber including a suite of metalwork dress fittings in gold and gems a ceremonial helmet shield and sword a lyre and many pieces of silver plate from the byzantine empire. Weighing more than 400 grams the buckle is actually a hollow box that. Early anglo saxon early 7th century ce. Constructed from several separate pieces its body forms a hinged box with an ingenious triple lock mechanism.

Gold belt buckle hollow with cast ornament. The british museum london. This spectacular gold buckle from the sutton hoo ship burial shows that the person commemorated there was of great importance. This gold belt buckle is a masterpiece of early medieval craftsmanship made using over 400g of gold with an intricate decoration of intertwining creatures inlaid with niello a black metal alloy.

The intricate decoration comprises a web of 13 snakes predatory birds and long limbed beasts. Byzantine silverware sumptuous gold jewelry a lavish feasting set and most famously an ornate iron helmet. This spectacular gold buckle from the sutton hoo ship burial shows that the person commemorated there was of great importance there s more to the buckle than you d think. The upper surface is covered entirely with zoomorphic interlace the design picked out in tiny punched circles and inlaid except on the loop in niello.

This type of animal ornament was popular with many germanic speaking peoples at the time. This gold belt buckle from sutton hoo is one of the greatest achievements of anglo saxon metalwork.