Identifying Buckles [Mar 31, 2001] Cuddeford, Michael J.

Cuddeford, Michael J.

ISBN 10: 1900571056 / ISBN 13: 9781900571050

Published by Mount Publications, 2001

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 40-82FG-4GBF

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Identifying Buckles [Mar 31, 2001] Cuddeford, Michael J.
• Publisher: Mount Publications
• Publication Date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1900571056
• ISBN 13: 9781900571050
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

Buckles have been in use for at least 2000 years. They range in size from simple utilitarian examples made of iron or brass, to elaborate jewellery items in precious metals set with gemstones. This book sets out to provide a general survey of buckles found in Britain, but also includes comparative examples from Europe and the New World. It covers component parts and terminology, and then examines buckles from various periods of history. Few artefacts can be pigeonholed into precise centuries or arbitrary periods, and buckles are no exception. However, for convenience this book follows convention and lists buckles as Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, Tudor and Stuart, followed by Hanovarian. Some 19th and 20th Century types are included, but late mass-produced civilian clothing buckles are omitted. Each section commences with an overview of characteristic buckle forms relevant to that particular period. There then follows a catalogue of representative examples. None of the drawings are to scale, but the longest overall dimension is given. All are copper-alloy unless otherwise stated in the text.

The dates given for many of the buckles shown are fairly broad, and it is rarely possible to attribute any specific type to within less than a century. In certain cases several centuries may be the closest it is possible to get. This book does not claim to be a definitive reference source for buckles, and infinitely more varieties exist than those illustrated. Rarely will an exact match be found, and users of this guide must expect to look for general identifying characteristics rather than expect to see an identical buckle. There will be some occasions when a given example will defy any exact attribution. Overall however, it is hoped the reader will find this book a good general guide and will allow most examples to be identified and dated satisfactorily.