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An Anglo-Saxon sword belt buckle dating back to the early 600s CE. Made using gold and inlaid with garnets and a pair of clasps, this is one of the finest examples of early medieval craftsmanship.
Unearthed in 1939 as part of the famous Sutton Hoo excavation in Sussex, England, this is the great gold buckle, an early 7th-century CE Anglo-Saxon artifact with curved sides and three domed bosses.
This silver buckle in the shape of a horse comes from a region known as the Ordos Loop (modern-day Mongolia). Dating back to the 4th-3rd century BCE, such elaborate and well-modelled representations of animals influenced the later gold plaques from Siberia created during the reign of Peter the Great (1672–1725).
A beautiful butterfly buckle carved from white jade originating from 18th-century China.
A belt gold buckle depicting a tiger attacking a horse. This piece dates back to the 7th-century BCE and is typical of the art associated with Scythian cultures of Central and South Asia.
Probably Byzantine in origin, this carefully-crafted gold buckle was likely made in the 6th or 7th century CE.
A rare example of a late Roman silver belt buckle in the finest of condition, probably made in 400 CE.
The design of this Gothic style buckle with a rectangular plate derives from Roman forms. The gilded silver buckle with an eagle's head is typical of the northern Black Sea area, which was settled by Crimean Goths around 400–660 CE, in modern-day Ukraine.
A set of three gilt bronze-mounted jade appliqués for a textile belt, dating back to China's Liao dynasty or earlier, circa 907–1125.
Unearthed in Spain, this bronze belt buckle dates back to circa 525–560 CE during the Visigoth rule of Iberia. The buckle is inlaid with garnets, glass, mother of pearl, gold foil, and traces of gilding.
Highly durable and yet still ornate, this gold belt buckle and strap end is Langobardic in origin and dates back to circa 600 CE. The Lombards were Germanic people who settled in Italy in the sixth century.
This polished silver sword belt plate once belonged to a Lieutenant James Edwards of the 28th Regiment, British Army, who fought in the American Revolution. It's dated back to 1771. The decorative GR insignia stands for George(ius) Rex, relating to the reign of King George III (1738–1820).
Simple but ornate, this gold openwork belt mount originates from Avar and dates back to the 700s CE. The Avars are a Northeast Caucasian ethnic group, which form the largest of several ethnic peoples living in the Russian republic of Dagestan.
Germanic in origin and likely crafted somewhere between 400–500 CE, this chunky gold buckle inlaid with garnets would have held together a sword belt.
Discovered in Perak, a state in the northwest of Peninsular Malaysia, this gilded silver buckle from the 1800s would have been worn with a sash by a man to hold together a sarong or lower garment.
Created in 1865, this American baseball-themed buckle is made of pressed brass and shows baseball shoes, crossed bats, balls, bases, circular plates, and a cap.
An exceptional example of the goldsmith's art, this beautiful cloisonné enamel and gold belt buckle and clasp was discovered in France as part of the Pouan hoard and identified as the burial treasure of a 5th-century Germanic warrior.
Buckles were made not necessarily to hold together belts. Pictured is a gold garter bracelet with enamel coral and a pearls medal and buckle. Dating back to around 1860, it would have been worn by a lady of considerable financial means.
By the 18th century, belt buckles in Europe were increasingly elaborate in their design, created to reflect the wealth and status of the wearer. Pictured is an ornate enameled gold buckle.
Comprising silver, opal, and ruby decoration, this belt buckle was created in 1903 by the Wiener Werkstätte, an artist's cooperative that brought together architects, artists, designers, and artisans working in ceramics, fashion, silver, furniture, and the graphic arts.
This highly embellished Viking-era buckle end finished in gold repoussé (a metalworking technique) originates from Norway around the 9th century.
Many ancient cultures used materials at hand to create clothing and jewelry. Pictured is a finely-weaved belt buckle made of tapestry in the form of a doll-like figure. The buckle is tasseled and was probably part of a ritual costume characteristic of the peoples of the Chancay coastal region of central Peru, circa 1200–1400 CE.
This military doctors' belt buckle is from 19th-century France. The buckle consists of two discs with an embossed caduceus and foliage, linked by a serpent made of ormolu. It is in the style worn by medical officers in the French Army at the time. Ormolu is a gilding technique applied to brass or bronze artifacts. Literally, Or moulu means ground gold.
The arrival of the Art Nouveau style, most popular between 1890 and 1910, saw gold buckles like this French-made example extravagantly decorated with anemones and floral motifs.
A Second World War-era German Heer ("Army") belt buckle dating from 1940 embossed with the swastika and the phrase Gott mit uns ("God with us").
A lot of work has clearly gone into creating this silver rectangular belt buckle, dated back to 1754. The buckle fastener is made from strand silver iron.
An unusual collection of leech-shaped gold buckles dating back to the 6th century BCE and the Etruscan civilization of ancient Italy.
This rectangular cloisonné enamel belt buckle with its vivid floral design on a turquoise ground in a brass mount was made in China, circa 1900.
A pair of Navajo Yeibichai dancers decorate a silver buckle made by Navajo silversmiths, circa 1970. The Yeibichai are supernatural beings who created the Navajo people and taught them how to live in harmony with the universe.
Unearthed at a royal burial site in County Meath, Ireland, this Celtic bronze harness buckle features traces of enamel and dates back to the 8th century CE.
This peach-colored silk velvet wedding dress from 1935 features a buckle made with sparkling rhinestones.
Sources: (British Museum) (The Art Story) (Navajo People)
See also: Iconic and inspirational wedding dresses throughout history
We've been using buckles since the Iron Age. This handy clasp used to fasten belts, straps, and other materials quickly evolved into a decorative work of art crafted out of gold, silver, and other precious metals. Many were embellished with gemstones and served a ceremonial purpose as much as a practical function.
Click through and take a look at how we've buckled up over the centuries.
Belt up! The buckle's place in history
Buckle down and take a look at these beautiful designs
LIFESTYLE Accessories
We've been using buckles since the Iron Age. This handy clasp used to fasten belts, straps, and other materials quickly evolved into a decorative work of art crafted out of gold, silver, and other precious metals. Many were embellished with gemstones and served a ceremonial purpose as much as a practical function.
Click through and take a look at how we've buckled up over the centuries.