Copper-alloy, 2.93 grams, 27.54 mm. 12th-14th century AD. A narrow buckle with its leading edge in the form of a sharply-beaked bird-head, the eyes indicated by circular holes and the feathers by ridged decoration around the sides. There is no tongue: the strap was held by a spike emerging from the back of the face. Reference: cf. beast-head buckles in Murawski, P. Benet's Artefacts of England and the United Kingdom, Ely, 2003 items M12-0211, 0212. Very fine condition. Provenance: from an old English collection.