This incomplete cast copper alloy buckle dates to the post medieval period, around the 16th or 17th century. The surviving frame shows decorative detail with rosettes at the centre of each end, flanked by floral ornamentation. Small knops are also present at either end of the narrowed strap bar.
Buckles of this type were widely used in everyday dress, serving both practical and decorative roles. The floral and rosette motifs reflect the fashions of the time, when even functional objects such as buckles were given ornate embellishment. Though incomplete, the surviving detail shows the level of craftsmanship invested in small personal items.
Such finds are common in the fields of Surrey, yet each one tells a story of past lives. This buckle may once have secured a belt, shoe or piece of clothing worn by a local villager or traveller. Today, even as a fragment, it provides a tangible connection to post medieval Surrey and the people who lived and worked there over 400 years ago.
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