Decorated belt

Belt decorated with hundreds of small pewter or tin nails and floral designs using coloured parchment, known as a tin belt, nail band or Zirmranzen, made in Alpine areas of Europe, this example dated 1796.

The original purpose of these belts, known as tin belts, nail bands or Zirmranzen and made in a number of Alpine areas of Europe such as Bavaria, Tyrol and parts of Slovenia, was protective. Covered with densely packed nails, made of tin, pewter or other metals, they were wore by soldiers from the late 17th century to give some level of protection against knives, bayonets and even lead bullets. They later developed into more decorative pieces, like this example which features a number of flower designs, made of coloured parchment, and displays the date 1796.

Primarily produced between the 1680s and the early 1800s, the belts are now quite rare as large numbers were melted down for their metal content during the Napoleonic Wars.