Allen Antiques

This page illustrates several buckles found on 16th c. breastplates

All of these are made of iron. They come from the surviving arsenal in Graz, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY and the Allen collection.

They illustrate what appear to be two different construction styles, and several styles of decoration.


Very basic "fabricated" buckles. They were probably made from strip stock curled up into a rectangle with a central bar welded into the rectangle and then flattened

Buckle at the shoulder on a simple c. 1600 munition breastplate Buckle at the shoulder on a simple munition breastplate in the Graz Arsenal Buckle at the shoulder on a simple munition breastplate in the Graz Arsenal

A one sided buckle. It appears to be formed from strip stock, curled into a rectangle then hammered.

Buckle at the shoulder on a simple c. 1600 munition breastplate

Simple rectangular buckles which have been decorated with tapered filing on the sides to accentuate the central bar.

Buckle at the shoulder on a simple c. 1600 munition breastplate Buckle at the shoulder on a simple munition breastplate in the Graz Arsenal Buckle at the shoulder on a simple munition breastplate in the Graz Arsenal

Buckles with decoration which includes long strips of stamped decoration.

Buckle at the shoulder on a simple c. 1600 munition breastplate Buckle at the shoulder on a simple munition breastplate in the Graz Arsenal Buckle at the shoulder on a simple c. 1600 munition breastplate Buckle at the shoulder on a simple munition breastplate in the Graz Arsenal Buckle at the shoulder on a slightly better munition breastplate A-210 in the Allen collection. Buckle at the shoulder on a simple c. 1600 munition breastplate

Most likely simple file work.

Buckle at the shoulder on a simple c. 1600 munition breastplate Buckle at the shoulder on a simple c. 1600 munition breastplate

Some more decorative buckles. The left one is fully filed, the right most likely a combination of stamping and filing.

Buckle at the shoulder on a simple munition breastplate in the Graz Arsenal Buckle at the shoulder on a simple munition breastplate in the Graz Arsenal Buckle at the shoulder on an early 16th c. breastplate. Likely associated. Buckle at the shoulder on an early 16th c. breastplate in the Met. A very nice buckle with an atypical tongue.

some more buckles.

Buckle suspending a tasset mid 16th c. Buckle at the shoulder on an early 16th c. breastplate, but it may easily be associated. Buckle suspending a tasset mid 16th c. Buckle from the inside of a 16th c. elbow Assortment of buckles Assortment of buckles

If you have any questions, please send them to Wade Allen

This site last updated Sept. 2020