Knee Buckle

Date1780-1790

Artist/Maker Joseph Toy (1748-1826)

MediumSilver, iron/steel chap

DimensionsOH: 1 15/16"; OW: 1 3/16"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number2000-127

Descriptionknee buckle
Label TextKnee buckles were essential jewelry for men's breeches in the 18th Century.
Breeches ended with a garter around the bottom of the knees. The buckle tightened the garter around the knee in order to keep the man’s stockings from falling down. The "T" shape of the chape known as a fluke, slipped into a buttonhole made at the back side of the garter. The longer section of the garter coming from the front of the breechs, went through buckle and was held in place by the tines or tongue of the buckle. The buckles were removable and could be switched from garment to garment. Like many buckle styles, this one imitates the popular paste or cut glass buckles at the time, however made in silver.

The buckle is marked IT with a pellet between the letters. Possibly made by Joseph Toy of Abingdon, Maryland. The buckle descended from the Butts Family in North Carolina.
MarkingsIT with a pellet between the letters. Possibly made by Joseph Toy of Abingdon, Maryland.
ProvenanceMr. Perkinson purchased this buckle with some early personal papers in a Nicholson family estate sale near Arlie, Halifax County, North Carolina, about 1972. It is claimed that this buckle descended through the Butts Family of North Carolina.