Copper-alloy, garnet; 6.67 grams, 27.15 mm. 5th-6th century AD. A delicate shield-on-tongue buckle suitable for the waist-belt of a noble lady. The loop is of the standard Merovingian elliptical shape; the slender tongue curves down towards the lower edge of the loop. The 'shield' is a single pelta-shaped garnet, its gold foil backing plate clearly visible through the translucent stone. The plate consists of a semicircular panel formed as a pair of addorsed boars, their heads arranged to coincide with the lower edge of the shield, and their forelegs placed within the 'D' void formed by their arching necks. Outside this plate there were three cabochon garnets in silver double collars joined by a line of billetted decoration. Three attachment pins are in place on the reverse. Reference: similar in design to Menghin, W. The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, p.495 item VII.29. One garnet survives, otherwise in extremely fine condition. Provenance: from an old English collection, found Kent.