14Th Century Belts Made From Short Pieces Of Leather

[UKRay]

I'm almost certain I've seen contemporaneous pictures of a man in the 14th century wearing a belt made from short pieces of leather joined together decoratively. Has anyone else seen the same image 'cos I could really do with another look at it.

My concern is that I may be mistaken and have actually seen a belt made from metal plates rather than leather - however. I'm looking hard and any help would be gratefully received.

Thanks folks,

Ray

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

Well from the title of the post I would say make it anyway that you want. Who knows what they will be wearing in the 114th century

[tonyc1]

Well from the title of the post I would say make it anyway that you want. Who knows what they will be wearing in the 114th century

You're quick!!!

[NoahL]

Sounds like a plaque belt--they were metal plates linked together, as far as I know, but it's possible that there were leather ones, I guess

[UKRay]

Okay, okay - I'll try to avoid typos in the title in future... LOL

Thanks for the idea, Noah - However, I suspect your picture shows a single length of leather with the plates folded over it or riveted into place rather than linked together. It would be much easier to make from a single piece of leather and IMHO nobody goes looking for hard work!

Having said that, the thing I believe I may have seen is a long belt made up from several pieces of leather and joined by threading one piece through slots in another (I have seen dog leads made in the same way). The tail of the belt is long enough to go through the buckle and still be tied in a knot around the buckle with a dangling tail in 14th century style.

I suspect the belt was made that way because long lengths were not available - or maybe it was made from shorter lengths cut from old belts. an early form of recycling perhaps! LOL

I believe I saw the original image in a book of paintings but despite my best efforts I can't find it again...

[amuckart]

Hi Ray,

This probably doesn't help but in a decade and more of doing 14th century reenactment and research, I've never seen a belt made like that. The only time I've seen belts interwoven like you describe is in the complex scabbard suspensions of the 13th century.

There was no general shortage of long lengths of leather in medieval times; there are plenty of extant examples of long straps and hundreds of iconographical ones.

It's possible that what you were seeing was a poor representation of metal mounts on a leather belt. It wasn't uncommon for belts in 14thC Europe to have metal stiffeners and decorative mounts on them.

[UKRay]

Hi Ray,

This probably doesn't help but in a decade and more of doing 14th century reenactment and research, I've never seen a belt made like that. The only time I've seen belts interwoven like you describe is in the complex scabbard suspensions of the 13th century.

There was no general shortage of long lengths of leather in medieval times; there are plenty of extant examples of long straps and hundreds of iconographical ones.

It's possible that what you were seeing was a poor representation of metal mounts on a leather belt. It wasn't uncommon for belts in 14thC Europe to have metal stiffeners and decorative mounts on them.

Thanks, Al. As you suggest, it could be my interpretation of an image that is causing the problem!

Ray