Figure 4: Ladies’ shoe buckles, c1770. Click on image to see a larger version and to read more detail about the buckles.

Pair of ladies’ shoe buckles, c. 1770. Close-set paste stones in a ribbon pattern on sterling silver backs. Chape and tongue also sterling. These are much smaller than the very large Artois style buckles worn by men at the time — about 2/3 the size. Possibly French.