About the Belt for a Lady's Dress

Detail of enamel and of the woven section
This belt, commonly called a girdle, would have been considered both a sumptuous ornament for the body and an object of great personal luxury because of its extraordinary richness. Almost eight feet in length, belts like this were at the height of fashion for both men and women at the end of the 14th century. The belt was passed around the waist and through the buckle; one end would fall to the hem of the garment.
The belt's many colorful enamel plaques are worked in translucent enamel over decoration engraved into the silver beneath (an enameler's technique known as basse-taille). The plaques display scenes of courtly love, musicians, and fantastic animals. A large number of translucent enamels were made for domestic use during the late Middle Ages-for use on jewelry, cups, wine fountains, and similar objects. This belt is a rare survivor among these now scarce objects.

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