Artwork preview

Belt Buckle with Zoomorphic Motif

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Gold belt buckle with a zoomorphic motif by unknown artist. The buckle is gold-colored and rectangular with rounded edges, featuring a raised design. The design depicts multiple creatures that resemble dragons or snakes, intricately intertwined. The creatures have curved bodies and heads. The buckle has a small protrusion on the left side, likely for attaching to a belt. A dark brown, rusted piece of metal is attached to the top-left corner of the buckle. The buckle has a beaded border around its edges. Several small, round, dark red gemstones or beads are embedded throughout the design. The buckle appears to be made of gold or gold-plated metal. The background of the image is a solid light purple color.

Artwork Details

Date
1st–2nd century
Medium
Gold inlaid with glass and carnelian
Culture
North China
Dimensions
600 × 386 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette