Silver-gilt belt plate

Silver gilt and gold belt-plate, length 3.85 cm. Rectangular with raised centre portion bordered by frame of nielloed triangles leaving reserved silver zig-zag (all niello gone now), sunken centre set with gold filigree plate. Ends in lower plane, having three dome headed rivets (5 heads missing), centre ones probably dummies since hammered over at back, but corner ones have shanks broken off. Gold filigree set on flat longitudinally down centre by border consisting of two plain gold wires twisted rather loosely together. Inside on either side of central division are flanking rows of s-shaped beaded wire motifs, and along each outer edge beaded wire and row of omega/pelts type motifs interspersed with S's, standing on heads. The back of the centre of the plate is hollow, but now obscured by plaster. It is fractured, and on one end the triangle border appears to be covered by thick skin of corroded silver or copper. It looks almost as if it is a reinforcing plate, but very curious. The original backplate is missing.