Little belt buckle (Art Deco?)

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by Lennyt, Sep 13, 2018.

  1. Lennyt

    Lennyt Well-Known Member

    I found this little belt buckle (at least I think it's a belt buckle).
    Looks kind of cool but can't find any info related to it.
    Any idea who made it and when?

    20180913_220353.jpg
    20180913_220434.jpg
    20180913_220459.jpg
     
    kyratango and scoutshouse like this.
  2. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    It's not old, just made to resemble an old one. There's no way to know who did it unless someone recognizes it.
     
  3. sabre123

    sabre123 Well-Known Member

    I would say, Art Nouveau...not Deco
     
  4. sabre123

    sabre123 Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Sep 13, 2018
  5. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    Never heard the term "nurses buckle" before. Apparently, used to describe the type of clasp that would be used as closure on a nurse's cape. As cape was part of a nurse's uniform, imagine often a fanciful description.

    Debora
     
  6. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

  7. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I agree, nurse's buckle refers to the functionality, nothing fancy. They are still worn in the UK:
    [​IMG]

    But the ones I've seen were always two part clip buckles, like this Anglo-Indian one (from my collection):
    upload_2018-9-14_11-38-51.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2018
    kyratango, komokwa, Bronwen and 2 others like this.
  8. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    With these particular Art Nouveau girls it is always difficult to see if they are of the period or 70s-80s revival. I am inclined to think Lennyt's is of the period. And as sabre pointed out, Art Nouveau, not Art Deco.
     
    komokwa, Bronwen, i need help and 2 others like this.
  9. Tom Mackay

    Tom Mackay Well-Known Member

    So - would the head be meant to suggest Florence Nightingale ?
    It's not inappropriate that angels are shown in the image linked to by
    ownedbybear, I think.
     
  10. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    No, the girl's head is seen on a lot of Art Nouveau jewellery, not just buckles. She represents feminine beauty, and is connected to Flora, the flower Goddess. It is one of the most iconic Art Nouveau jewellery features.
     
    kyratango, Tom Mackay, judy and 3 others like this.
  11. Tom Mackay

    Tom Mackay Well-Known Member

    Oh. Thanks ! There you go - my ignorance of an exceptionally iconic image is on display.:eggface:
     
  12. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    I meant that -- to my mind -- an art nouveau-design clasp would seem like a rather fanciful item on a period nurse's uniform cape. Does anyone have a vintage photograph that shows such usage? Willin' to believe.

    Debora
     
    Bronwen, i need help and Fid like this.
  13. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    Oh, they were very pretty and decorative. The one in that link, with the cherub heads is typical. The Nursing Museum at St Thomas's has some. Let me see if I can find an image or two.
     
    Bronwen and i need help like this.
  14. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    Learn something every day. (And isn't that the whole point?)

    Debora
     
  15. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    Absolutely! It's half the fun.
     
  16. Tom Mackay

    Tom Mackay Well-Known Member

    Any Jewelry and i need help like this.
  17. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    Thank you for locating site for me. While I do see scroll patterns from the same period, I don't see anything figurative.

    Debora
     
  18. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    The nurses' capes I am finding button similarly to this one; nothing useful comes up searching for nurses cape clasp or fastener.

    [​IMG]

    The buckles all seem to be large, for belts, & many of the belts seem specific to individual hospitals, although I see the one that looks more like a Valentine. Think posted (half) buckle or clasp can be ruled out as nurse's apparel on size alone.

    They do say: The head is actually a separate piece of silver. The two really are the same. Maybe silver allows for a sharper impression than brass. Or the die that stamped the posted one is a copy (of a copy...) that has lost some definition.
     
    kyratango, i need help and Tom Mackay like this.
  19. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    Debora, second one down on Peter's Nursing Collectibles has a cherub on a dolphin. The NHS People's History link is putti as well. That's a pretty authoritative reference.

    This one is 1980s: https://www.bagthejewels.co.uk/sterling-silver-nurses-buckle-on-original-stretch-belt-sold-296-p.asp

    https://www.loveantiques.com/antiqu...ique-victorian-silver-nurses-buckle-1893-1459

    Real life nurse: http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-nurses-buckle.html

    Have a look at the Queens Nurses on here: that's the style of cape. As is no 10. http://reneebenham.wixsite.com/beyondnightingale/browse

    The ones with bands are much later.
     
  20. Nancy Neal

    Nancy Neal Well-Known Member

    I am a retired nurse who trained at Mile End Hospital in the East End of London, nurses belt buckles were only allowed once you became an SRN, (State registered nurse, ) when in training differed colours of belts were worn to show your year (level) of training ,Buckles were usually silver and decorated but not overly so, I never saw a cape decorated with a buckle. different hospitals had slightly different rules I think, ie at my hospital once you were an RN you got a different cap also and the belt color changed to red, ,When you became a Sister(Head nurse or supervisor) you had a whole different uniform and fancy sleeves or cuffs . still have my belt buckle and Sister,s cap, I was a night supervisor. then went on to a ward (floor sister at another hospital, then a live in nurse at a school for handicapped children before emigrating to US ,never worse white uniforms until I came here, . thanks for the memories .
     
Draft saved Draft deleted
Similar Threads: Little belt
Forum Title Date
Jewelry Little Ring found for a buck-what kind of stone please ? Feb 4, 2024
Jewelry Pretty little glass & brass bracelet Feb 1, 2024
Jewelry little modern jade? fish pendant Dec 2, 2023
Jewelry Cute little metal filigree brooch Nov 11, 2023
Jewelry Little plique a jour bug Aug 4, 2023

Share This Page