id: 150537 accession number: 1981.9 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1981.9 updated: 2022-01-13 10:03:58.476000 Buckle with Animal-Shaped Thorn and Belt Plate, AD 400s. Sarmato-Gothic, Migration period, 5th century. Bronze with traces of gilding and garnets; overall: 4.3 x 4.5 cm (1 11/16 x 1 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, In memory of William M. Milliken 1981.9 title: Buckle with Animal-Shaped Thorn and Belt Plate title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: AD 400s creation date earliest: 400 creation date latest: 499 current location: 106A Migration Period & Coptic creditline: In memory of William M. Milliken copyright: --- culture: Sarmato-Gothic, Migration period, 5th century technique: bronze with traces of gilding and garnets department: Medieval Art collection: MED - Migration Period type: Jewelry find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS --- measurements: Overall: 4.3 x 4.5 cm (1 11/16 x 1 3/4 in.) state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: The Year in Review for 1981 opening date: 1982-02-17T05:00:00 The Year in Review for 1981. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS --- PROVENANCE (Paul Drey Gallery, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art). date: -1981 footnotes: citations: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH date: 1981- footnotes: citations: --- fun fact: During this time it was popular to wear gold inlaid with precious stones. digital description: wall description: Between the AD 200s and the 600s, the European West is characterized by the so-called "barbarian invasions," a term referring to the movement of various Germanic people into the Roman Empire. The period of the great migrations of these Germanic peoples was one of uncertainty and disorder. By the AD 300s, the collapse of Roman military power in the western provinces was increased by the westward movement of the Huns, an especially fierce enemy from the east. The Huns drove before them displaced Germanic tribes—the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, and Lombards—as they advanced deep into the western provinces. These Germanic peoples were composed of many national groups with diverse customs and traditions. Long nomadic, they gradually settled and took to farming, though always preferring maritime commerce and fishing. They were not attracted to the monumental arts of architecture and sculpture until they had long settled an area. By contrast, the tombs of these migratory people were filled with weapons, tools, and jewelry, often magnificently decorated. The art of the Germanic peoples is almost exclusively one of personal adornment—a portable art that followed men and women to their graves. --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1981.9/1981.9_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1981.9/1981.9_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1981.9/1981.9_full.tif