Outstanding 18th-19th C. Greek Large Belt with Jewels. An exceptional and early example, built of strong brass sections with gold overlay mounted on to the finely braid base, front side exhibiting elaborate floral decorations retaining most of its original fire-gilt finish with multi color enamel ambiance, all adorned with a series of round rosettes set with red and green cabochon stones, possibly rubies and emeralds. This fine buckle was made for a wedding – for the groom to present to his bride. It is of Greek and Bulgarian in style and shows influences from afar afield as North Africa, Russia and of course Ottoman Turkey. It is of gilded nickel, gilded silver, enamel and glass paste stones. The metal plates of the belt are attached to woven fabric.The decoration on this belt is similar to that found on ecclesiastic items from Greece and the Balkans and most probably is the product of the same workshops. Such techniques were most widely used in Thrace, an area now divided between Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey. Such buckles appear to have been used in the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Their use seems to have ceased by 1900.Belt is 32", buckle is 5". ~~~. References Georgoula, E., (ed.), The Greeks: Art Treasures from the Benaki Museum, Athens, Calouste Gulbernkian Foundation, 2007.Detailed condition reports are not included in this catalog. For additional information, including condition reports, please contact us at info@sofedesignauctions.com