Buckle ID help?!?!?

[VAdigger1988]

I went hunting to a 1830s house in West point va there used to be a 1700s house with in a rock throw need any info on this buckle to me looks like a head of lady liberty in the middle and 4 stars in each of 4 corners inside a etched border please help.

 

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[creskol]

That style bar/attachment is consistent with those on sash buckles.

 

[VAdigger1988]

I just want to know dates reasoning of style and maybe even worth

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

That style of sash-buckle ("clipped-corners" rectangle, worn vertically) dates mostly from the mid-1800s through late-1800s. With that version of attachment-hook on its back, I lean toward second half of the 1800s.

 

[VAdigger1988]

With the motif of possibly lady liberty with stars would you say maybe a militia plate?

 

[creskol]

It may just be the Pretty Lady from the early art nouveau period.

 

[DCMatt]

As stated - late 19th C dress/sash buckle.


Starting in the 1880's there was a huge public nostalgia for "The Civil War", so it was fashionable to wear military-esque things - even for the ladies. This period was the heyday for all the veteran's groups and reunions and small town marching bands.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

VAdigger1988, for what it's worth to know... I searched all the way through the 616-page photographic encyclopedia book "American Military Belt Plates" (by O'Donnell & Campbell) for you, and I could not find a match for either the front or back or your buckle. Since it isn't shown in "The" book on American Military buckles and plates, I'm tending to agree that it is most likely a "patriotic motif" civilian-usage sash-buckle.