Shoe buckles

Shoe buckles have been worn since medieval times, as both a functional and decorative object. The cloth latchets on shoes were drawn through the buckles to keep the shoe tight over the instep, so while they served a functional purpose in that respect, many buckles, such as this pair, were decorative as well. Showing particularly ornate detail, this pair of buckles depicts a little boy dressed in early to mid-nineteenth century attire and a girl in a less definable chemise. The care taken to carve the metal with such detail shows a high level of quality, design and workmanship.