"Early Medieval Bronze Plate Buckle Fitting with Christian Cross Culture / Period: Early Medieval Date / Period: 6th–8th century A.D. Material: Bronze Dimensions: 42 mm Condition: Good condition No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid. Provenance information: Object Registration ID: 764 The current owner purchased this object from a reputable Dutch numismatic auction house in Schiedam, the Netherlands. Due to privacy regulations, the name of the previous owner could not be disclosed. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner. Background Information: This bronze plate buckle fitting is an attractive example of Early Medieval personal dress equipment. The openwork plate is decorated with two circular perforations and a projecting terminal bearing an incised Christian cross, while the surviving buckle attachment demonstrates its original function as part of a complete belt assembly. During the 6th to 8th centuries A.D., decorated buckles and strap fittings formed an essential part of personal attire throughout Western and Central Europe. They secured belts that supported clothing, pouches, knives, and other everyday items, while simultaneously serving as visible indicators of social identity and craftsmanship. Such fittings were produced in specialised workshops using cast bronze, after which details were refined by engraving and finishing by hand. The engraved cross reflects the gradual spread of Christianity during the Early Medieval period. Following the decline of the Western Roman Empire, Christian symbols increasingly appeared on personal ornaments, belt fittings, and jewellery. These motifs expressed religious affiliation while blending with established Germanic decorative traditions, creating distinctive objects that combined practical use with symbolic meaning. Comparable buckle fittings have been recovered from Merovingian and other Early Medieval cemeteries and settlements across present-day France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and neighbouring regions, illustrating the widespread adoption of Christian iconography within everyday dress. Dating to the 6th–8th century A.D., this fitting belongs to a transformative period in European history, when Roman traditions evolved into the emerging medieval kingdoms and Christianity became firmly established across much of the continent."