Jewelry
France, Europe
1820-1850
Ormolu; Gold; Brass
Cast
1969.0167
Object Number1969.0167 |
Buckle (Belt buckle)
Jewelry
Gift of Miss Ann Lee Cole
France, Europe
The creation place was identified as probably France by a previous cataloguer [Lorena Baines 2008].
1820-1850
Ormolu; Gold; Brass
Cast
3 (L) , 1.374 (W) , 0.354 (D)
7.62 (L) , 3.49 (W) , 0.9 (D)
Fashionable American women's dresses and clothing of the 1830s often emphasized the waist with a wide fabric belt fastened with buckle like this one. The scrolling floral border would frame a rounded rectangular section of cloth while the pointed teeth secured the belt from the underside. Such large buckles are visible in painted portraits and printed fashion plates. The gilded surface of this brass buckle gave it a luxurious, light-reflective note of functional ornament on the body.