"Medieval and Post-Medieval Collection of Archaeological Finds – Buckles, Dress Fittings, Harness Bell, Mounts and Domestic Objects Culture / Period: Medieval and Post-Medieval Date / Period: Circa 14th–18th century Material: Bronze / copper alloy, lead, glass and wood Dimensions: Various sizes Condition: Good condition, with age-related wear, patination, surface deposits and minor losses consistent with archaeological objects 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: 874 The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased this collection of archaeological finds from R.H. G. in Dordrecht. The previous owner, R.H. G. from Dordrecht (The Netherlands), stated that the objects had been in his collection since the 1990s. According to the previous owner, the objects had previously been in a private collection in The Netherlands since the 1990s. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the objects was available from the previous owner. Background Information: This varied collection brings together a group of small archaeological and historical objects representing everyday material culture from the Medieval and Post-Medieval periods. The assemblage includes dress and belt fittings, buckles, hooks, decorative mounts, a harness or animal bell, a belt-end fitting, a lead-framed glass fragment, a wooden lid and other small functional objects. Individual dating within the group varies, with pieces ranging approximately from the 14th to the 18th century. Several buckles, primarily dating to the 17th–18th centuries, are represented in different forms and sizes. Buckles were essential components of Early Modern dress and were employed on belts, shoes, clothing and straps. Their variety demonstrates how a simple fastening device could combine practical construction with changing contemporary fashions. The collection also contains cloak or clothing hooks, broadly dating to circa 1500–1700. Such fittings formed part of the extensive range of metal accessories used to secure garments and other textiles. Hooks and related fasteners were often cast in copper alloy and could range from plain utilitarian examples to considerably more decorative forms. A Medieval belt-end or strap-end, attributed to approximately the 14th century, represents one of the earlier elements of the collection. Strap-ends were attached to the terminal of leather belts or straps, protecting the leather while simultaneously providing a decorative finish. They belonged to the highly developed tradition of Medieval personal dress fittings, alongside buckles, mounts and suspension fittings. The spherical horse or harness bell, broadly dating to circa 1600–1800, is provided with a suspension loop and sound openings. Bells of this general type could be attached to horse equipment or harness and produced sound as the animal moved. Such objects formed part of the practical equipment associated with transport and the use of horses in Early Modern society. An unusual component is the triangular leaded-glass fragment, attributed to the 17th century. A small piece of coloured or painted glass remains enclosed within a substantial lead framework. Lead cames were extensively employed to join individual pieces of glass into larger window compositions, making this fragment an interesting survival of historical architectural craftsmanship. Several decorative mounts and openwork fittings, including examples with relief and rosette-like ornament, are attributed to the 16th–17th centuries. Such fittings could have decorated belts, straps, clothing, leatherwork, boxes or other personal and domestic objects. Their cast and openwork decoration illustrates the attention given to ornament even on comparatively small functional fittings. Also included is a round wooden lid with a centrally pierced knob, attributed to the 17th century. Wooden objects generally survive less frequently than metal archaeological finds because of their organic composition, making surviving examples particularly informative for the study of ordinary household equipment. The precise vessel or container to which this lid originally belonged is not documented. Another object is identified as a lid belonging to a weight, dating to the 17th century. Such components relate to the systems of weighing and measurement that were fundamental to commerce, markets and the exchange of goods during the Post-Medieval period. Taken together, the collection illustrates several different aspects of Medieval and Early Modern daily life: clothing and personal appearance, horse equipment and transport, household objects, architectural fittings and commercial activity. Rather than representing a single archaeological context, the assemblage brings together individual objects whose forms reflect established traditions of specialised metalworking and craftsmanship. These modest functional objects were once handled, worn and used as part of ordinary life. As a group, they form a tangible connection to Medieval and Post-Medieval society and to the practical material culture that accompanied people in their clothing, homes, travel and everyday activities."