Producer unknown to us
Belt buckle
Europe, Greece
19th century
Silver, enamel, coral, gilding
Ümit Bir (gynaecologist) acquired the belt buckle in Athens, Greece, on August 28, 1970
On permanent loan from the Dr. Bir Collection Foundation
SB 572 a, b
The goldsmiths of Safranbolu (Safrapolis) on the southern coast of the Black Sea were known for their skill in combining colored enamel decoration with the red of blood coral. This is also the case with this 19th century belt buckle, which was probably made in Safrapolis and worn in Hellespont.
Gynaecologist Ümit Bir (1929–2014) gathered most of his collection on several trips from Marocco to India from the 1960s to the 1990s. Unfortunately, we still do not know the exact circumstances of the acquisition of this object. Since 2004, the collection has been on permanent loan to the museum from the Dr. Bir Collection Foundation.
Jan König