Button or Chain Emblem? Military or Fashion? Anchor with four attachment rings

[Oilfield Diver]

What is this from? Notice it has four attachment rings. Was this to a chain, a belt, a ribbon? What era?? Military or Fashion item? Says "Superior Quality" on the back with two stars. Thx.

 

[creskol]

It is part of a belt made with old buttons, similar in nature to this one:

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Definitely some lost components of a Patriotic Fashion belt for ladies. Such belts, stamped by using the dies for making US Military buttons, first appeared in the 1870s, and continue to about 1900. They were particularly popular with the wives of Union veterans of the civil war.

Update: Heh. Apparently Creskol and I started typing at the same time, but it took me longer to choose the right photos. I've got a few more of Ladies Patriotic Fashion belts, if you want to see others.

 

[Oilfield Diver]

Thanks creskol - and thanks Cannonball Guy! - you are amazing - and spot on again. Just what I needed. With the specific info you provided, I can possibly nail it down to which wife of the high ranking officer it belonged to (at least down to two or three of them). The lineage of officers (and their wifes') are known, it's just down to narrowing down a find and comparing it to what year(s) they served. I can probably narrow it down to less than five or ten of them. Solved! Many thanks!

Update: Yes you are correct. Union occupation most of the time. Confederates held the camp for awhile though. And thanks for the picture selection - it is very helpful.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Oilfield Diver, since you are hoping to tie your find to a particular officer, but you didn't say whether he was a US or CS officer, I must add that I don't think any of this type of Ladies Patriotic belt were popular with UCV (United Confederate Veteran) wives or daughters, because I've never seen this type of belt with Southern State button-fronts.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

More info for you:
I wasn't paying extra-close attention at the time I selected the photos to post, but apparently your piece showing an anchor is an exact duplicate of the piece in my photo #2. Also, its "backmark" is exactly the same.

Due to the "Superior Quality" marking being done in "plain" block letters (no serifs on the letters), that particular belt would seem to date from no earlier than 1890.

 

[jjg70]

I found a button a couple of weeks ago with the same anchor design, and according to alberts book on buttons, that anchor design is naval reserve WW II era

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I must point out, that specific emblem on the belt (an anchor within a circle of rope, which is surrounded by a lined field that is encircled by a flat-topped ridge, whose outer edge is also encircled by rope) is not shown in the Albert button-book. None of the US Naval Reserve buttons in Albert's book have the inner circle of rope.

 

[Oilfield Diver]

Cannonball Guy, very valuable and interesting clue in the 1890 and later note. All U.S. Officers (to the best of my research, although Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, Sam Houston, and another notable who would become a U.S. President walked these very grounds as well). Being after this date and being naval in design, I think I have now nailed it down. A very notable Admiral's wife. Its gotta be hers..

 

[CAllen]

I have found a belt just like this one!! It has 24 links.. Musician Belt?? Not a womens fashion belt? AND does the embelm tell me anything?

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

The emblem in your belt was the Regulation specified emblem for uniform buttons of US Army "Staff Officers" from 1854 until 1902. ("Staff Officers" held the rank of Lt. Colonel or higher.) Therefore, your Ladies' Patriotic Belt most probably was purchased by the wife of a veteran who was a yankee army Staff Officer.