Belt Buckle Plate

This item is a belt buckle from 12th century Europe. It’s a square buckle with two prongs protruding out of the left side. It’s made of copper alloy, enamel, gold, and turquoise. The buckle features a figure of a man and woman on the front, with the turquoise used as accents. This design itself is significant to the metaphors of the story as it features a couple, presumably in love, on it. The gold is used around the border of the buckle along with a delicate, repeating circle pattern. The belt buckle is significant to the theme of Medieval dress, as it is an essential accessory that would have been used by nobility in particular. Items like these are clear indicators of class, which is a theme that comes up in Bisclavret as well. This belt buckle is a significant item in this exhibit, as the design on the front of it aligns with the love between the woman of the story and the two different men: her husband and her paramour. Additionally, clothing plays a key role in the story, as it is the only thing that allows for Bisclavret's transformation back to man.