8th century A.D. Comprising a D-shaped plate with acanthus-leaf motif in low-relief, beaded wire band above the hinge, kidney-shaped rectangular-section loop, flat tongue with spur to the upper face; three mounting studs to reverse. Cf. Schulze-Dörrlamm, M., Byzantinische Gürtelschnallen und Gürtelbeschläge im Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseum, Teil 2. Die Schnallen mit Scharnierbeschläg und Schnallen mit angegossenem Riemendurchzug des 7. bis 10. Jahrhunderts, Mainz, 2009, no.26, fig.4. 33.02 grams, 55 mm (2 1/8 in.).

Acquired from Bernard Hern, 1970s. From an old UK collection, 1970s-1980s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12113-217070.