Shoe Buckle
1811-1812 (hallmarked)
| 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 at which English silversmiths and jewellers excelled. 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.
This buckle is one of a pair, with Museum no. M.418A-1911.
Making buckles became a highly skilled craft at which English silversmiths and jewellers excelled. 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.
This buckle is one of a pair, with Museum no. M.418A-1911.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver and steel |
| Brief description | Silver with steel spring mechanism, London hallmarks for 1811-1812, mark of James Atkins with a spring clip chape patented by William Eley in 1784. |
| Physical description | Shoe buckle, (one of a pair), silver with steel mechanism, rectangular, decorated with a stylised anthemion rim. Fitted with a spring clip shape of a type patented by William Eley in 1784. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Miss Jane Souter Hipkins |
| Object history | Maker's mark, 'JA', perhaps for James Atkins, London (Grimwade's Buckle makers' list). Spring clip shape patented by William Eley in 1784. |
| Production | Spring clip shape patented by William Eley in 1784. |
| Subject depicted | |
| 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 at which English silversmiths and jewellers excelled. 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. This buckle is one of a pair, with Museum no. M.418A-1911. |
| Associated object | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.418-1911 |
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| Record created | June 9, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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