Silver buckle help

[mainer]

Dug this silver buckle tonight at an old site. Thought it was a brooch til I got home. The forked piece was still in this and I still have it, so it is defenitly a buckle. Can someone tell me an age? And What the hallmark on the back means? If you cant see it, it is a lion in the upper left hand corner in the second pic. Thank you for any help.

 

[CRUSADER]

Very nice buckle indeed

British Sterling mark but without the assayer or date letter

I will have to think a bit on age

 

[mainer]

I was hoping you would respond Cru. Mull it over a bit, and let me know what you come up with.

 

[CRUSADER]

I was hoping you would respond Cru. Mull it over a bit, and let me know what you come up with.

Pretty sure its a ornate shoe buckle, & 19th Century, hard to narrow it down anymore

 

[mainer]

Better then nothing, I didnt have a clue on this one. Thank you Cru!

 

[shaun7]

Ohhh......that's nice

 

[mainer]

Thanks Shaun.

 

[CRUSADER]

Better then nothing, I didnt have a clue on this one. Thank you Cru!

I can't be sure, it does quite fit any of the book examples. It could be a Knee buckle, if its smaller? How big is it? I hope its late 18th C but I would expect a markers mark on such a fine piece

 

[Kirk PA]

It is a 1700s knee buckle. Do you have the inner parts? Could you post those as well. Silver knee/shoe buckles were worn only by wealthy settlers. This is a rare find.

Kirk

 

[mainer]

I was thinking 1700's Cru, but I know that you would know more about this then me. The buckle is 1 and 3/8 inches long.

 

[mainer]

Sure do have the guts heres a pic. There a rusty mess but here they are.

 

[CRUSADER]

It is a 1700s knee buckle. Do you have the inner parts? Could you post those as well. Silver knee/shoe buckles were worn only by wealthy settlers. This is a rare find.

Kirk

I'm also beginning to lean that way, there are some similar (ish) silver Shoe Buckles with flower & openwork design from the 18th C. Must have been a tax dodge not to assayer it

As you say a rare & high status piece, still not had one myself

 

[CRUSADER]

I was thinking 1700's Cru, but I know that you would know more about this then me. The buckle is 1 and 3/8 inches long.

not really it throw me somewhat, the crispness of design looked later, very good workmanship

 

[mainer]

Certainly the best I have dug, without a doubt.

 

[Bramblefind]

That's a beauty!

I found an example of sugar tongs marked only with the lion passant "probably 18th century"

http://www.cowanauctions.com/past_sales_view_item.asp?ItemId=24828

 

[CRUSADER]

Certainly the best I have dug, without a doubt.

http://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ukdfddata/showrecords.php?product=8952&cat=all
This is only slightly similar, but it adds weight to yours being 18th C, so a excellent find in any country, bonus points on your side of the pond

 

[mainer]

I was hoping it was going to be a rare dig. I knew it was rare for me. Thanks CRU!

 

[Iron Patch]

Nice one! Don't see many silver buckles dug! The closest I ever came was a few pieces, one showing some of the hallmarks, it would have been even better than the one here! But it wasn't meant to be.

 

[CRUSADER]

I was hoping it was going to be a rare dig. I knew it was rare for me. Thanks CRU!

To put this into context, there are only 73 Silver Buckles (of any type) recorded on the whole of the Portable Antiquities Scheme & none of them match yours. (& not many on the UKDFD)
http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/58496
They have the above with a similar Lion mark & date it to 1650-1750, however they state the mark was used until 1820, & I think yours would be in the later 1700s rather than earlier

So rare is probably an under-statement, try extremely rare, & in that condition

 

[mainer]

Your making my day CRU. I had no idea it would be this rare.