Pair of Shoe Buckles
1750-1800 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
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. They came in different shapes
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. Buckles came in oval, rectangular and square designs. They could be gold or silver, plain or elaborately decorated using clear or coloured stones, precious and semi-precious and paste. 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 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. Buckles came in oval, rectangular and square designs. They could be gold or silver, plain or elaborately decorated using clear or coloured stones, precious and semi-precious and paste. 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 | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Metal set with pastes |
| Brief description | Pair of metal shoe buckles, possibly made in France or Great Britain, 1750-1800 |
| Physical description | Pair of metal shoe buckles, square with pierced work border and set with interlaced bands of pastes. A large paste is set at each corner and in the centre of each side. |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | 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. They came in different shapes 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. Buckles came in oval, rectangular and square designs. They could be gold or silver, plain or elaborately decorated using clear or coloured stones, precious and semi-precious and paste. 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 | T.63&A-1982 |
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| Record created | April 15, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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