Germanic shoe buckles from Eschborn, 5th century.

Description

A curiosity are these shoe buckles from a woman’s grave near Eschborn, Frankfurt/Main area, Germany. They are in the style of late Roman military buckles, which were worn only by soldiers. Shoe buckles in themselves are very rare to find in this time period and characterize their owners as members of the upper class; it is all the more interesting that a young Alamanni woman had such extravagant pieces made for herself, for which we have no other parallels so far. The Eschborn cemetery dates from about 430 to 500. Originals made of gilded silver; for a strap width of 1.1 cm. Prices for a pair. Replica in brass.