French ?? Belt Buckle

[wcallis]

I found this buckle while searching for Civil War relics in Tennessee. It was in an area that I've found several miniballs, a CSA buckle and other Civil War artifacts. It was buried about 7 inches deep. It measures 2.25 inches square. The headgear on the figure indicates it is of French origin. The picture of the back of the buckle isn't as clear as it I would have liked, but the figure is concave on the back and raised on the front. There is a "loop" almost the width of the buckle, for the belt, but there is no hook, nor any indication of where one would have been. While the piece is thin, it is not flimsy. It is very, very sturdy. There is one tiny spot of gold plating left. Does anyone have any idea what this is or what it's origin may have been?

 

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[High Plains Digger]

Grandpa's belt buckle from the 1884 battlefield tour with great grandpa? Had to be him............wore suspenders from that day forward.

 

[creskol]

No help with an ID, but that sure is an interesting relic! Great Find!

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[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

No help here either, but I'd still say good find.