Creative Commons License
Belt Buckle
Buckles with openwork plates depicting griffins drinking from fountains have been found in many parts of France and Switzerland. The griffin, a mythical creature that is half eagle, half lion, originated in Assyria and symbolized vigilance and ferocity. They were a popular design motif throughout Europe during the Migration period. With the advent of Christianity, the griffin drinking from a cup came to symbolize the soul refreshing itself at the source of everlasting life.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Victor Gay, Paris, by purchase; Sale, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, March 23, 1909, no. 281; Joseph Brummer, New York [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Sale, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, May 12, 1949, no. 278; Walters Art Museum, 1949, by purchase.
Exhibitions
| 1984-1987 | Objects of Adornment: Five Thousand Years of Jewelry from the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, New York; Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk; Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh; San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio; Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa; Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu; New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans; Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee; Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis; Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo; The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota. |
| 1987 | Jewelry from the Walters Art Gallery and the Zucker Family Collection. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
| 1979-1980 | Jewelry - Ancient to Modern. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| 4/19/1984 | Treatment | cleaned |
Geographies
France, Picardy (Place of Origin)
Measurements
1 11/16 x 3 15/16 x 7/16 in. (4.3 x 10 x 1.1 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase, 1949
Location in Museum
Centre Street: Third Floor: Migration and Early Medieval Art
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
54.2343