Knee buckle

Date1775-1795

MediumSilver and iron/steel.

DimensionsH: 1 5/8"; L: 1".

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1952-284

DescriptionKnee buckle. Elliptical silver frame with bead pattern; steel chape; two straight prongs.
Label TextKnee buckles were essential jewelry for men's breeches in the 18th Century.
Men's breeches ended with a garter around the bottom of the knees. This tightened around the knee with the help of a buckle in order to keep the man’s stockings from falling down. The "T" shape of the chape or fluke, slipped into a buttonhole made at the back side of the garter. The longer section of the garter from the front of the knee went through buckle and was held in place by the tines or tongue. The buckles were removable and could be switched from garment to garment.

This buckle is made of silver in an elliptical shape. During the 1770s and 1780s, garters on breeches could be very wide depending on what the customer desired. To accommodate that wider garter fashion buckles like this example were manufactured.
ProvenanceEx. collection John Marshall Phillips, Yale University Art Gallery.
Vendor: Yale University Art Gallery