Images(2)

Shoe Buckle

Date1795-1805

OriginEngland; worn in America, Virginia, Culpeper County

MediumFerrous metal, tin alloy (xrf), silver alloy (xrf), likely close-plated

DimensionsLength: 3 ½ inches Width: 2 ¾ inches

Credit LineGift of the Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA

Object number2023-244

DescriptionLarge single shoe buckle, rectangle in shape with three incised lines running parallel to exterior edges. The out most edges are created by a line of dots. Each corner terminates in a grouping of circles. The buckle fastens to the shoe with three iron and steel chapes. The tines to pierce through the shoe latchet are very short but reinforced with decorative cross pieces. The chapes were blued.
Label TextMen and women fashionably wore shoe buckles from about the 1660s to the end of the 18th century. This buckle was worn by William Lewis (1763-1851 who lived in Culpeper County, Virginia.
MarkingsNo Marks
ProvenanceWorn by William Lewis [1763-1851] (Culpeper County, VA); by descent to son John Lewis [1783-1866](Culpeper County, VA); by descent to son William Walker Lewis [1812-1901] (Culpeper County, VA); by descent to daughter Fannie Hill Lewis [1847-1929] (Culpeper County, VA); by descent to daughter Martha Adella Yowell [1868-1953] (Culpeper County, VA); 1948, given to The Valentine Museum; 2023-present, given to The Colonial Williamsburg (Williamsburg, VA)