Buckles

The women of northern Germany, when wearing traditional dress, covered themselves in rich silver filigree jewellery, from the tops of their heads to their feet. Their shoe buckles were made to complement the rest of their jewellery. Men’s shoe buckles were much smaller and plainer, although also made of silver.

These buckles are typical of those worn in the Altes Land in the first half of the 19th century. The name and date of their owner is stippled on the back of each buckle, but she may not have been the original owner. Under the inscription on one buckle are the faint traces of an earlier date: 1849. Jewellery from this region often has names or initials and dates engraved on the back, showing that they were originally betrothal or wedding gifts. These inscriptions are almost always scratched or stippled by the bride or groom themselves, not professionally engraved.