Sir John Evans's Collections of Artefacts
Anglo-Saxon Gold and Garnet Buckle
Country of Origin: Britain
Description: Gold and garnet buckle dating from the seventh century. The setting is built up on a sheet-metal plate and the gem is enclosed on four sides by plain mouldings with pointed teeth on the inner edge, the teeth bent over to clasp the bevelled edge of the gem.
Dimensions: 6.5cm length
Object Period: Anglo-Saxon
Provenance: Tostock, Suffolk
Museum Accession No.: AN1909.455
Aquisition History: Found in c. 1840. Then purchased in 1851 by Joseph Warren and eventually acquired by Sir John Evans. Presented to the Ashmolean by Sir Arthur Evans in 1909.
Other Information: With its simple and elegant design this buckle is one of the finest in the Ashmolean's collection of antiquities. It forms an impressive testament to the goldsmith's craft and the enormous table-cut garnet is the largest known from England.
Further References / Links:
J. Y. Akerman, Remains of Pagan Saxondom (London, 1855) p.3, pl. i, 9.
R. Bruce-Mitford, Aspects of Anglo-Saxon Archaeology. Sutton Hoo and other Discoveries (London, 1974) p.291, pl. 96a.
E.T. Leeds, Early Anglo-Saxon Art and Archaeology (Oxford, 1936) p.108, pl. xxx, g.
A. MacGregor and E. Bolick, Ashmolean Museum: Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections (Non- Ferrous Metals), BAR British Series 230 (Oxford 1993) no.34, 27.