Top ten medieval museums

Top ten websites that teach about real medieval goods

These are excellent research tools to use when you want to know more about how real medieval people dressed and the artifacts they left behind. Many of Reliquaria Medieval's replicas are based on items in their collections. 

1. The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) – finds.org.uk

This is arguably the most important resource of medieval small finds. It is a database of over 1.6 million objects found by the public in the UK (mostly metal detectorists).

  • What it's good at: You can search for "buckle," "strap end," or "annular brooch" and filter by century. Each entry usually includes a high-res photo, weight, dimensions, and metal composition (e.g., "cast copper alloy").
  • The Edge: The only place where you can see thousands of items of the same type. 

2. The British Museum Collection – britishmuseum.org

While PAS covers "everyday" finds, the British Museum holds the high-status items (The Sutton Hoo belt, etc.).

  • What it's good at: Their "Collection Online" has incredibly detailed descriptions of manufacturing techniques. If you want to know if a buckle was lost-wax cast or die-struck, this is where you find out.
  • The Edge: Really beautiful items that have been well researched for a long period of time.

3. Projekt Forlǫg – sagy.vikingove.cz

Don’t let the name intimidate you; this is one of the best English-language resources for Viking and Early Medieval material culture.

  • What it's good at: They do deep-dive "Reconstructions" of specific finds (like the Haithabu belt set).
  • The Edge: They often provide 1:1 drawings and explain the mechanics of how the hardware actually worked with the leather.

4. Finds Research Group (FRG) – findsresearchgroup.com

This group publishes "Datasheets" that are essentially the "Bible" for specific types of hardware.

  • What it's good at: Their PDFs (like Late Anglo-Saxon and Viking-Age strap-ends) categorize every known variation of a specific item. 
  • The Edge: A great tool for dating artifacts and learning how researchers classify them.

5. Medieval London (Museum of London) - Museum of London’s online portal.

The book Dress Accessories: c.1150-c.1450 (from the Medieval Finds from Excavations in London series) is the industry standard. While it’s a book, many plates and summaries are available.

  • What it's good at: This covers the "Bourgeoisie" and commoner hardware.
  • The Edge: A large variety of goods from one of the medieval period's busiest trading cities.

6. France: Base Joconde & POP - culture.gouv.fr/pop

This is the central gateway to all French national museums. It is a goldmine for High Medieval and Gothic hardware.

  • Search Tips: Use French terms for better results: Boucle (buckle), Ferret (strap end), Mors de chape (belt clasp), Bijoux (jewelry).
  • The Edge: France was the fashion capital of the 13th and 14th centuries. If you want to replicate the "Courtly Love" style or elaborate heraldic belt mounts, this is your primary source.

7. The Netherlands: Rijksmuseum van Oudheden - rmo.nl

The National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden has an exceptional collection of Late Medieval belt mounts and personal ornaments.

  • Specific Resource: Look for their online exhibit "Medieval Chic in Metal." It focuses specifically on the mass-produced, highly decorative lead-tin and copper alloy mounts used by the growing merchant class.
  • The Edge: This is perfect for the "Bourgeois" kit. If you are doing a 15th-century "Townsperson" impression, the hardware found in the Low Countries is the aesthetic you need.

8. Sweden: Statens Historiska Museer - historiska.se/en/

The Swedish History Museum has arguably the best Viking and Migration Period hardware database in the world.

  • Search Tips: Their digital collection allows you to search specifically for Bältesspänne (belt buckles) or Fibula (brooches).
  • The Edge: If you need Viking gear, a find from Birka or the Battle of Visby (1361) adds immense value. Their database includes high-res photos of the mass graves at Visby, which contains some of the most famous "soldier's hardware" in existence.

9. Denmark: Nationalmuseet - natmus.dk

The National Museum of Denmark holds the "Type Specimens" for many Viking-age styles (Borre, Jelling, Mammen).

  • Search Tips: Use Spænde or Bæltespænde (buckle), Remende (strap end), Remebeslag (for belt mounts) and Fibel or Fibelspænde (brooch).
  • The Edge: They have extensive records on Haithabu (Hedeby) hardware.

10. Germany: Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek - deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de

A massive aggregator of German museum data.

  • Search Tips: Use Schnalle (buckle), Riemenzunge (strap end), or Gürtelbeschlag (belt mount).
  • The Edge: Germany was the center of high-quality steel and brass work in the 15th and 16th centuries. If you want to expand into Landsknecht or Holy Roman Empire hardware, this is the place to study the transition from Medieval to Renaissance styles.