Buckle Mania

[Lost Signal]

Last weekend was all about small buckles. Found two knee buckle frames, a spectacle buckle with tongue, an extremely ornate buckle fragment, and what I think might be a 17th century spur buckle. The "spur buckle" is roughly 1 3/8".

Also, two mystery objects. One is a broken fragment and there's likely not enough to identify, but the other one looks like a plumb bob or pendulum weight. I just can't figure out what it went to. There is wear in the eye, so it definitely was suspended. And, it has a flat piece of lead wrapped around it. The lead must have been to add weight, but it throws off the balance, so I don't think that the object was a carpenter's plumb bob. Thoughts?






I almost forgot... Last week I posted couple of hinges from 18th century folding rulers and when I was looking through my "trash" I noticed this sliver of copper had something on it, a #2. It's the 2 inch mark.



Thanks for looking.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[CRUSADER]

Yes a 17th C Spur Buckle.

the 'plumb bob' is an 18th C drawer pull with lead added later for some odd reason.

 

[ticndig]

looks like a light or fan pull to me , lead added to reduce movement?

 

[Lenrac2]

Or repurposed as a fishing weight? Great finds!!

 

[Steve in PA]

Really nice assortment of early buckles

 

[CRUSADER]

looks like a light or fan pull to me , lead added to reduce movement?

Nope. IDed it already. There are two types of this drawer pull, this solid type & a half hollowed back type.

 

[Lost Signal]

Yes a 17th C Spur Buckle.

the 'plumb bob' is an 18th C drawer pull with lead added later for some odd reason.

Thanks, Cru.

Now that you say it, I have seen similar pulls. The lead was throwing me off, but we all rig stuff when we're trying to make do with what we have, so it shouldn't be surprising that someone would repurpose an object in the 18th century. Maybe they were trying to fashion a plumb bob... just not a very good one.

I'll definitely keep the lead on it in my display. It's much more interesting that way.

 

[ticndig]

Nope. IDed it already. There are two types of this drawer pull, this solid type & a half hollowed back type.

Can you share how the attachment was made , I'm used to seeing a screw or screw hole and can't understand how this would attach to a drawer.

 

[Lost Signal]

Can you share how the attachment was made , I'm used to seeing a screw or screw hole and can't understand how this would attach to a drawer.

Sure. They're called "drop pulls," and this is only one of the three parts that make them work. Sometimes the part that I found is called a pendant. There is also a back plate and a stem that would screw or bolt into the drawer itself.

Here is a pair of antique pulls from eBay and a reproduction and a back plate that I found at the same site. The back plate might be from the same piece of furniture. I just didn't put two and two together until Cru pointed it out.

 

[CRUSADER]

Thanks, Cru.

Now that you say it, I have seen similar pulls. The lead was throwing me off, but we all rig stuff when we're trying to make do with what we have, so it shouldn't be surprising that someone would repurpose an object in the 18th century. Maybe they were trying to fashion a plumb bob... just not a very good one.

I'll definitely keep the lead on it in my display. It's much more interesting that way.

Agreed, leave it as an interesting talking point, I would guess the same as you but who knows what their purpose was....

 

[HCW]

That last buckle is a double loop trapezoidal buckle 1620-1680.
#513. Page 60 in Ross Whiteheads book
I have found 2 of a matching pair of them on a property here in Mass. One was found a few months ago and the first one I found about 10 years ago.
Pretty exciting. Nice finds

 

[pepperj]

Great looking buckle and getting the repurposed drawer pull-cool recovery.

 

[ticndig]

Ok that makes sense to me now , thanks for the explanation and pics .

 

[Hunk-a-lead]

sweet buckles, thanks and great saves

 

[Silvermonkey]

Great, great collection of buckles! Those finds would keep me jazzed up for a long time! Congrats!

 

[mbcuce]

What's the thing next to the drawer pull, on the left? Looks like its patterned or writing on it.

 

[Tdog]

What's the thing next to the drawer pull, on the left? Looks like its patterned or writing on it.

It looks like a spoon or fork handle.

 

[Gare]

Nice collection of early buckles