Pendent buckle of Duke Casimir VI/IX (1557-1605)

A silver buckle belongs to a set of belt and baldric fittings, excavated from one of the duke's sarcophagi from the crypt of the Castle Church in Szczecin. Ended with a hook, it was used to fasten a thong to a belt, which held a rapier scabbard. The set also includes a three-part buckle, two belt loops, belt end fittings and buckles of various sizes. The silver elements are almost entirely covered with plant-zoomorphic decoration, engraved, on a non-illustrated background. The buckle with a hook is decorated with a bird among floral thread and ornament with a carnation motif. The hook covered with a pattern resembling scales refers to the shape of a snake.

Baldrics popular in the 16th and the first half of the 17th centuries consisted of a belt worn at the waist, to which additional straps were attached to support a rapier, spade or sword. With representative costumes, there were usually baldrics adapted to them with decoration: rimmed with fabric similar to the garment, decorated with haberdashery, embroidered with gold thread, silk or pearls. In the second decade of the 17th century also bandoliers came into fashion, i.e., broad belts worn diagonally over the shoulder, used for carrying white weapons. Fragments of two bandoliers have survived in Szczecin's collections. One of them, probably belonging to Bogislaw XIV, was sewn from shiny, golden fabric, while the other was decorated with an extremely impressive, raised embroidery with floral motifs, made with thread and braided with gilded silver.

Monika Frankowska-Makała