Shoe Buckle
ca. 1770 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Gold or silver buckles for shoes were in fashion for most of the 18th century. They gave the finishing touches to elegant dress and were one of the few pieces of jewellery worn by men as well as women. Gentlemen wore matching shoe and knee buckles.
Making buckles became a highly skilled craft in England and in France. Exquisitely wrought designs, glittering pastes and precious stones reflected the status of the wearer as well as the occasion. Cheaper and plainer versions were made of steel, brass and other metal alloys.
By 1790 shoe buckles were falling out of use, except as part of ceremonial or court dress.
Making buckles became a highly skilled craft in England and in France. Exquisitely wrought designs, glittering pastes and precious stones reflected the status of the wearer as well as the occasion. Cheaper and plainer versions were made of steel, brass and other metal alloys.
By 1790 shoe buckles were falling out of use, except as part of ceremonial or court dress.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver set with marasites and coloured pastes; steel |
| Brief description | Silver buckle set with marcasites and coloured pastes, steel chape, Western Europe, about 1770. |
| Physical description | Buckle, silver set with marcasites and coloured pastes. Open, rectangular frame set with a ribbon below, and with a ribbon and flower crest above; the pastes set in graduated rows with flat closed back. The chape, in steel, comprises forked prongs extending from an openwork scroll device attached by a hinge to the central rod, the loop has two additional prongs. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Boar's head (Paris restricted warranty silver mark in use from 1838 to 1961.) |
| Credit line | Given by Dame Joan Evans |
| Summary | Gold or silver buckles for shoes were in fashion for most of the 18th century. They gave the finishing touches to elegant dress and were one of the few pieces of jewellery worn by men as well as women. Gentlemen wore matching shoe and knee buckles. Making buckles became a highly skilled craft in England and in France. Exquisitely wrought designs, glittering pastes and precious stones reflected the status of the wearer as well as the occasion. Cheaper and plainer versions were made of steel, brass and other metal alloys. By 1790 shoe buckles were falling out of use, except as part of ceremonial or court dress. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.168-1975 |
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| Record created | June 3, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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