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Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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Identification and Creation

Object Number
1995.1162
Title
Buckle with Terminal in the Form of a Stylized Bird
Classification
Jewelry
Work Type
jewelry
Date
5th-6th century
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World
Period
Byzantine period, Early
Culture
Byzantine
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/304283

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Mixed copper alloy
Technique
Cast, lost-wax process
Dimensions
2.8 x 5.1 x 0.8 cm (1 1/8 x 2 x 5/16 in.)
Technical Details

Chemical Composition: ICP-MS/AAA data from sample, Mixed Copper Alloy:
Cu, 73.75; Sn, 4.35; Pb, 10.92; Zn, 9.07; Fe, 0.51; Ni, 0.06; Ag, 0.16; Sb, 0.66; As, 0.52; Bi, less than 0.025; Co, 0.013; Au, less than 0.02; Cd, less than 0.002
J. Riederer

Technical Observations: The patina is a varied green, with red corrosion products and brown burial deposits. The piece is intact; there are visible casting flaws, and the surface has worn areas. The attachment was cast, probably in a two-part mold. There is excess metal on the edges that flowed along the join of the two molds during casting.


Carol Snow (submitted 2002)

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Nelson Goodman, Weston, MA, gift; to the Harvard University Art Museums, 1995.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Nelson Goodman
Accession Year
1995
Object Number
1995.1162
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Published Catalogue Text: Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Bronzes at the Harvard Art Museums
The openwork section of this belt buckle is rhomboidal with a horizontal crossbar, now broken. Six raised bumps along the openwork section occur at the four corners of rhombus and at the top and bottom of the crossbar. The molded hook is in the shape of a stylized bird, with incised linear interior details. A simple, slightly curved tang connects the hook to the body. The back is featureless.

Lisa M. Anderson

Subjects and Contexts

  • Ancient Bronzes

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu