"Medieval Bronze Buckle with Plate Decorated with a Lion Culture / Period: Medieval Europe Date / Period: 13th century Material: Bronze Dimensions: 33 mm Condition: Good condition, with surface corrosion and patina consistent with age 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: 82 The current owner purchased the 13th century buckle with plate decorated with a lion from a private collector, N.N. in Alkmaar. The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from Alkmaar (the Netherlands), stated that the object had been in his collection since an unknown date. According to the previous owner, the object had previously been part of a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1980s. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object is available. Background Information: This medieval bronze buckle with integral plate dates to the 13th century, a period marked by the widespread use of such fittings in both civilian and military dress across Europe. Buckles of this type were commonly used to fasten belts, straps, and garments, serving both practical and decorative purposes. The presence of an attached plate indicates that the buckle was originally secured to a leather strap by means of rivets, the holes for which remain visible. The decorative motif, described as a lion, reflects a popular symbolic theme in medieval art. Lions were widely associated with strength, courage, and nobility, and frequently appeared in heraldic and decorative contexts. While the precise detail is affected by corrosion, such imagery suggests that even everyday objects like belt fittings could carry symbolic or status-related meaning. The buckle frame, with its oval shape and simple pin, is characteristic of 13th-century typologies found throughout northwestern Europe, including the Low Countries and England. These items were typically cast in bronze using established metalworking techniques and finished by hand. Workshops produced such fittings in large numbers, supplying both local markets and wider trade networks. In daily life, belt buckles were essential components of dress, used by men and women alike to secure clothing and carry small personal items such as pouches or tools. Their durability and functionality made them indispensable, while decorative elements allowed for personal expression within the constraints of everyday utility. This example reflects the craftsmanship and material culture of the medieval period. It provides a direct and physical link to the people of the 13th century, where such objects were part of everyday attire and played a practical role in daily life."