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Shoe buckle

Shoe buckle

  • Place of origin:

    England (made)

  • Date:

    1737 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Unknown

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Black japanned brass

  • Museum number:

    M.8-1973

  • Gallery location:

    Jewellery, Rooms 91, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery, case 14, shelf D, box 3

An inscription and symbols of mortality decorate the band of this black shoe buckle. The inscription tells us that it was made to commemorate the death of Queen Caroline, consort of George II, who died on 20 November 1737, in her 55th year. Many mourning rings from this period have survived, but mourning buckles are comparatively rare, although they must have been made in large numbers.
(Image - top left)

Physical description

Rectangular buckle with gently curving sides, inscribed and decorated with symbols of mortality. Inscribed with: 'CAROLINA D.G/MAG. BR. FR. ET/ HIB.REG.OB.20/NOV 1737 AE.55.'

Place of Origin

England (made)

Date

1737 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Black japanned brass

Marks and inscriptions

'CAROLINA D.G/MAG. BR. FR. ET/ HIB.REG.OB.20/NOV 1737 AE.55.'
Inscribed. Queen Caroline (1683-1737), consort of George II, was the daughter of John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenberg-Anspach.

Dimensions

Width: 5.5 cm, Height: 4.3 cm, Depth: 1.3 cm

Object history note

Queen Caroline (1683-1737), consort of George II, was the daughter of John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenberg-Anspach.

Descriptive line

Rectangular shoe buckle with gently curving sides, inscribed and decorated with symbols of mortality, black japanned brass, England, 1737

Subjects depicted

Skull; Mourning; Death

Categories

Footwear; Jewellery; Royalty; Death; Europeana Fashion Project

Collection

Metalwork Collection

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